Deadly, Multi-Vehicle Crash Blocks Highway 4 Near Pittsburg

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — UPDATED: A 46-year-old Discovery Bay woman who died in a collision on westbound state Highway 4 in Pittsburg this morning has been identified by the Contra Costa County coroner's office as Theresa Frazer. According to the California Highway Patrol, Frazer died and four other people were injured in a crash that was reported at 8:01 a.m. on westbound Highway 4 just west of the Railroad Avenue overcrossing.

CHP officials initially identified the victim who died as being 22 years old, but the coroner's office clarified that Frazer was 46. Frazer was driving a Nissan Sentra that slowed because of an earlier non-injury collision between a motorcycle and a Dodge sedan. A Chevrolet Tahoe then rear-ended the Sentra, CHP Officer Brandon Correia said.

Frazer was pronounced dead at the scene while her male passenger was taken to a hospital with injuries that were considered major but not life-threatening, Correia said.

The Tahoe had a mother, father and child inside and all three were also hospitalized. The child, believed to be between 10 and 13 years old, was taken as a precautionary measure while the mother and father had injuries considered major but not life-threatening, Correia said.

Five other vehicles — a Dodge truck, an Audi sedan, a Toyota Highlander, a Chevy Trailblazer and a Honda Civic — collided behind the Sentra and Tahoe, but no other injuries were reported in those vehicles, he said.

The crash prompted the closure of the three right lanes of westbound Highway 4 for about three hours. The lanes reopened as of 11 a.m.

"This shut down of lanes was needed due to the extensive damage and number of vehicles for this fatality collision investigation," Correia said.

The involved parties and drivers who were uninjured all remained on scene and cooperated with investigators, Correia said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, CHP officials said it was unknown whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision. The investigation is ongoing; anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it should contact Officer Gutierrez at the Contra Costa CHP office in Martinez by calling 925-646-4980.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Patch file photo by Maggie Avants