Oregon trucker killed in fiery head-on crash on I-5 in California
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A fiery head-on crash involving three big rigs killed all three drivers and closed northbound Interstate 5 just west of Bakersfield for roughly 11 hours from late Monday to early Tuesday.
One of the drivers, 55-year-old Johnny Hannah, was from Oregon, according to the Kern County coroner.
All lanes re-open-d around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday. Traffic had been diverted onto northbound Highway 99 and westbound Highway 46, then back onto I-5.
The Kern County coroner's office identified two of the drivers Wednesday as Hannah and 45-year-old Robert Puga, of Lancaster, Calif.
The third driver's name was withheld.
The California Highway Patrol said one of the drivers allowed his southbound truck to drift across the dirt center divider and into the northbound lanes – into the path of the two northbound semitrucks.
The CHP said it was investigating what prompted the driver's rig to veer into oncoming traffic.
One of the drivers, 55-year-old Johnny Hannah, was from Oregon, according to the Kern County coroner.
All lanes re-open-d around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday. Traffic had been diverted onto northbound Highway 99 and westbound Highway 46, then back onto I-5.
The Kern County coroner's office identified two of the drivers Wednesday as Hannah and 45-year-old Robert Puga, of Lancaster, Calif.
The third driver's name was withheld.
The California Highway Patrol said one of the drivers allowed his southbound truck to drift across the dirt center divider and into the northbound lanes – into the path of the two northbound semitrucks.
The CHP said it was investigating what prompted the driver's rig to veer into oncoming traffic.
Hello I'm the daughter of one of the truckers I want to see if anyone has more information about the accident please contact me at iflamenco8@gmail.com
my Face Book email is nimohannah@yahoo.com i can add you if you have fb
you can call at 541-404-8549
I wish there was a fire fighter or someone that seen the accident that I could talk to I need to know some things to close my mind and to make it more clearÂ
@Robin
We are on the east coast loading right now. I still haven't been able to get in contact with Robert's wife. I will let her know your feelings as soon as I make contact with her.
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On the back of the firefighters in the pictures is KCFD. That is for Kern County Fire Department. Also I noted two of their names: TAPE and HAMMETT. You might be able to contact the KCFD and send the firefighters a letter. Just a thought.
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As far as the tanker...I too heard that there was a tanker. My neighbor emailed me about the accident and mentioned it in the email. Not sure how she found out.
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Is there anyway we can talk private?
Pati Ty and Im so sorry for the others if you see Roberts family Tell them for me we are very sorry Johnny was a very good caring person driver of 30 years I know he had somthing happen like heart or somthing  It was a awfull wreck Im still in shock I drive truck to and ive never seen any thing like it it must of happened so fast for no one to have time to react was there a fuel truck involved some one told me there was again Im sorry (Robin Hannah)
I know he didnt fall asleep he talked to his wife and dispatch he had just woken up the truck Qualcom said he had only been driving 15 minutes and was only doing 56 MPH somthing happened passed out or heatatack I drive truck to and we would talk all time and i miss my bro lots Im so sorry for the other Familys of the other drivers this is a very hard time for us all Robin Hannah
@Robin
Hello Robin,
My husband and I are team truckers and our neighbor was Robert Puga. We just found out about the accident a couple of hours ago. He was a good man and will be missed deeply by his family and friends. This is a hard time for all involved. I am sorry for your loss too, as well as the third drivers family. With the posts that have been posted here I would like to add that not ALL truckers are outlaws. There are MANY that do 'run by the books'. So people should not pre judge anyone. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in this time of need. Take care everyone.
Pati
All I'm gonna say is that I' m he's daughter and that I'm a CDL because of him & proud of that. I have been "tired" but you know what?!? I'm a grown up and always told dispatch when I was done. Period. This wasn't a tired issue.
 @kiwiwifey This is robing Hannah his brother and  dispatch said he had only been driving 15 minutes so I dought very seriously if he fell asleep I think heart atack or somthing
 @kiwiwifey I ment Robin not robing
buttcut: good thing you were there and saw everything that happened. Are you a truckdriver too?
The driver whose truck "drifted" across the highway was probably out of hours, doctored his log book, and fell asleep.   Truckers do this regularly to try to drive enough hours to make a living. Unfortunately, all they do is make a dying and end up taking out innocent lives.
 @the buttcut He did not he just woke up befor acusing and making acucations wait for the resultsÂ
 @the buttcut I drive truck and if you know now they have Qualcoms where you cant doctor its all on a computer
 @the buttcut what you say is true. Could have been a heart attack or some other health issue other than falling asleep.