Highway 99 Fatal Big-Rig Crash South of Lodi Kills Two, Injures Five
A semi-truck rear-ended a Kia Forte stopped in traffic on northbound Highway 99 south of Lodi on May 19, 2026, killing two young men and hospitalizing five others.
- Location
- Lodi, CA
- Occurred
- May 19, 2026, 7:20 PM UTC
- Last verified
- 5d ago
- Sources
- 2 primary sources
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On the afternoon of May 19, 2026, a fully loaded Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck rear-ended a Kia Forte stopped in traffic on northbound Highway 99 south of Harney Lane near Lodi, San Joaquin County. The chain-reaction collision killed two people in the Kia — reported as ages 16 and 20 — and sent five others to hospitals, two with major injuries.
What happened
The crash was reported at about 12:20 p.m. According to reporting, the semi did not stop for stopped traffic ahead. The Kia was pushed into a Nissan Frontier, which was pushed into a Toyota Camry. The California Highway Patrol later arrested the truck driver, who was charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, hit-and-run causing death or injury, and obstructing or resisting a peace officer. The case is proceeding through the courts; this page reflects public reporting, not a legal conclusion.
If you or a family member was involved
Crashes that involve a commercial truck often involve multiple insurance policies and parties — the driver, the carrier, and sometimes a freight broker or shipper. Keep records while details are fresh: medical visits, the CHP report number, photos, and any insurance correspondence. See document your exposure and losses.
If you wish, you can see whether you qualify for a free review by an independent attorney — there is no obligation, and AlertRelief is not a law firm.
Timeline
At about 12:20 p.m., a Freightliner Cascadia hauling a fully loaded semitrailer fails to stop and rear-ends a Kia Forte stopped on northbound Highway 99 south of Harney Lane near Lodi; the Kia is pushed into a Nissan Frontier, which is pushed into a Toyota Camry.
Two people in the Kia — reported as ages 16 and 20 — are killed; five others are transported to hospitals, two with major injuries.
The California Highway Patrol arrests the truck driver, who is charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, hit-and-run causing death or injury, and obstructing or resisting a peace officer.
Common questions
What happened on Highway 99 near Lodi on May 19, 2026?
As reported, a Freightliner semi-truck rear-ended a Kia Forte that was stopped in traffic on northbound Highway 99 south of Harney Lane at about 12:20 p.m. The Kia was pushed forward into two more vehicles. Two people in the Kia were killed and five others were hospitalized.
Were charges filed?
According to reporting, the California Highway Patrol arrested the truck driver, who was charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, hit-and-run causing death or injury, and obstructing or resisting a peace officer. The case is proceeding through the courts; this page reflects public reporting, not a legal conclusion.
What should I do if I or a family member was involved?
Keep medical records, the CHP report number, photos, and any insurance correspondence. AlertRelief is an information and referral service, not a law firm; this is not legal advice. If you wish, you can request a free review by an independent attorney — no obligation.