The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reminding drivers of the consequences of failure to move over for emergency vehicles after a multiple fatality crash that occurred early Tuesday morning.
The crash occurred at 2:30 a.m. near Lodi, California, according to a new release from CHP — Stockton.
Two CHP troopers were assisting a disabled semi truck on southbound I-5 when, “for unknown reasons,” the driver of a Subaru SUV veered off of the right side of the road and slammed into the rear of the CHP cruiser, sending the cruiser into a dirt embankment.
The SUV then collided with a tree and became fully engulfed in flames.
CHP says that all three people in the SUV died at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash.
The two CHP troopers on scene sustained major injuries and are being treated at a hospital.
Police are investigating whether drugs or alcohol could have been a factor in the fatal crash.
Troopers are asking drivers to obey California’s “Move Over” law. The law requires drivers that are approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying emergency lights, a stationary tow truck displaying amber lights or a stationary CalTrans vehicle displaying amber lights to make a lane change into an available adjacent lane. If a lane change would be unsafe or impracticable, drivers are required to slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.