66-Year-Old Woman Killed In I-680 Collision Tuesday Evening

A 66-year-old woman was killed in a collision Tuesday evening on Interstate Highway 680 northeast of Martinez, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said.

The woman was a passenger in a Honda Pilot that overturned on southbound Highway 680 near Pacheco Boulevard and north of state Highway 4 around 5:15 p.m., CHP Officer John Fransen said.

Initial reports indicated five or six vehicles were involved, but officers learned the Pilot was one of three cars in the accident, Fransen said.

The driver of the SUV had sideswiped an Acura, lost control and collided with a Honda Insight before it overturned, landing on its roof, according to Fransen.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and four others were transported to the hospital, but Fransen did know the severity of their injuries, he said.

One person was trapped in car but Fransen did not know if it was the woman or one of the injured. Fransen did not know the woman’s relationship to the Honda Pilot driver.

Speed, alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the collision, according to Fransen. The accident initially blocked three lanes before all southbound lanes were closed near Arthur Road, CHP Officer Van Eckhardt said.

Northbound lanes on Highway 680 near the scene were also experiencing heavy traffic, CHP officials said.

A Sig-alert was issued at 5:27 p.m. and the lanes reopened at around 7:30 p.m., according to the CHP. The Contra Costa County coroner’s office was called to the scene, CHP officials said.

Traffic was backed up to the Benicia Bridge and motorists were advised to take Interstate Highway 780 to Interstate Highway 80 to Highway 4, CHP officials said.

--Bay City News