VACAVILLE, CA — A tragic early-morning crash on eastbound Interstate 80 in Vacaville claimed the life of a 58-year-old Stockton man, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The incident occurred around 4:20 a.m. Tuesday, near Leisure Town Road.
Authorities say the driver of a 2016 Mazda stopped and blocked one of the eastbound lanes of the freeway. The Mazda’s driver, later identified as a Stockton resident, was unable to move the vehicle before a 2024 Peterbilt big-rig, traveling in the same direction, collided with it.
The force of the crash left the Mazda driver with fatal injuries, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Peterbilt, a 59-year-old man from Pacifica, was uninjured in the incident. Neither vehicle had any other passengers.
CHP spokesperson Garrett Pumphrey confirmed that investigators are working to determine whether the Mazda’s lights were on at the time of the crash. Preliminary investigations suggest that the big-rig driver had no indication of the stopped vehicle in his path until it was too late.
The Peterbilt driver is cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities as they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
This fatal incident has raised concerns about the safety of vehicles stopped on the freeway, especially in low visibility conditions. CHP continues to urge drivers to exercise caution and to ensure their vehicles are visible if they experience breakdowns on major highways.
The investigation remains ongoing.