Three people died in a solo-vehicle collision on the N. Main St. offramp from northbound I-680 in Walnut Creek, according to the CHP.
The following is from the CHP – Contra Costa:
Last night at approximately 10:40 p.m., Contra Costa CHP was advised of a solo vehicle collision that was on fire located on the North Main Street offramp of I-680 northbound in Walnut Creek.
Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, a Pontiac Grand Prix was fully engulfed in flames.
After the Fire Department extinguished the flames, it was determined a Pontiac Grand Prix was driven from the offramp into a dirt vegetation area off the roadway and directly into a tree. The vehicle caught fire with all three occupants still inside, subsequently killing all occupants. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroners Office will be handling the release of identity of all the occupants. (2 adult females and 1 adult male).
Our preliminary investigation indicates that the driver (18-year-old female from Fairfield) was driving the Pontiac on I-680 northbound and exited at the North Main Street offramp. It appears the driver took the offramp too fast and veered off the roadway into the dirt vegetation area and collided head on into a tree. The Pontiac caught fire and became fully engulfed in flames, killing all three occupants. The front right passenger was an 18-year-old female and the rear passenger was a 47-year-old male from Oakland.
It is unknown at this time if alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in this collision as it is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the vehicle just prior to the collision, please contact Contra Costa CHP at (925)646-4980. Thank you.
photo credit: Craig Cannon – for use only on Claycord.com
So sad…I feel bad for the first responders. that has got to be so horrific to see.
RIP
How horrific! God bless them and their families and friends.
That off-ramp turns into a U-turn very quickly. Since she was from Fairfield, she may not have been familiar with that sharp off-ramp.
Terribly sad that such young lives were lost including the 47 y/o.
I have lived here for years and never used that off ramp once. The southbound off ramp I take all of the time and that makes a 360 turn. Looking at the map of the northbound it seems it has a long slowdown section before the curve. You never know when it is your time. Tough way to go.
It’s hard for me to find the right words to say. It’s like a mini-GhostShip, at least to me. Somebody please tell me they passed out due to shock/fumes/smoke inhalation/something before the flames got to them. As a burn survivor, I am horrified. It hurts my heart to know that these young people died in this way.
@C-Kitty, that was my first thought. I so hoped that they did not suffer.
Condolences to family and friends. I am sure they were loved and will be missed.
I’m guessing it was this offramp: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPQCwSimcQ
No that’s not the same ramp! People that Illegally drive like that have two descriptions: an accident waiting for a place to happen and organ donors! 🤪🚑
Robert I’m guessing that IS the same ramp. There is no other ramp like that in the area, and there’s Mt. Diablo, right where it’s supposed to be.
I believe the video shows the southbound off ramp. The accident happened on the north bound off ramp. The northbound has a tight curve. The southbound one has a longer turn.
Not the same offramp, I drove past the accident scene last night at 11:10 and saw all the lights and firefighters on scene.
The accident happened in the offramp right next to Motel 6, Im guessing that would be the northbound offramp.
The video of the stupid drifter is taken from the southbound offramp.
IMO, again another Darwin winner, going WAAAYYY too fast for no reason at all, and they got the win. Sad to say, but true.
Everybody needs to SLOW DOWN, what is the big rush for?
Slow and stop for yellow traffic signals, don’t blow thru it. The really is no big hurry….and slow down on the freeway.
That looks like the right exit. The tree colors look strange for the area. And you can’t see Mt Diablo like someone else mentioned. So there’s no guarantee that this is the same Ramp but it’s in the correct shape
The off-ramp in your video with the car drifting is on the opposite side of the freeway. Go look on Google maps and you will see. If I could post a picture here I would show you
Video is SB exit near General Plumbing. Accident was NB near WC corp yard.
@Anon that video was wet
That off ramp is very dangerous. I know it well and always go slowly. RIP
Um may I ask why two 18 year females were with a 47 year old dude?
PS: You folks need to seriously slow down. It’s just an easy as wearing a mask!
Mr. Mayor, you were much nicer to pooh-for-brains than I would have been.
If we apply the same logic to gun control, cars should be banned because they can be used negligently or criminally.
Common sense legislation, right?
Oh wow, here we go… *eyeroll*
True. More people die from cars than guns.
Yeah you are insensitive and clueless. Go back under your bridge, troll. Show some respect.
thats absolutely right
Well…… E-12 speaks the truth…
Snowflakes want you to give up your guns, but they won’t give up their cars…..
for Mary; please replace gun with gas leaf blower.
(just kiddin’ Mary)
Slow down on the road, ya maniacs
I cannot post photos here but you can see several photos of the ramp on the Facebook post
Drove past after work and figured it was a fatality accident. With the excessive number of idiots driving recklessly, no surprise. They made their exit, hope it was quick.
Easy to jump to conclusions on why this accident happened. There could be many reasons, not just a driver at fault. It’s best to wait and see if more information comes about, if not then no matter how many comments here we see we will never know.
This is a sharp ramp & if you’ve never taken it before & at night it can surprise you. Pretty sure this is what happened to this driver.