FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The man who died in a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 99 south of Fresno Sunday morning has been identified by the Fresno County Coroner’s Office.

CHP reported around 9:15 a.m. 17 vehicles, including a semi truck, piled up on southbound Highway 99, south of North Avenue, blocking all lanes of traffic.

Investigators reported that two separate crash sequences occurred moments apart within the wreckage. During the initial crash, both the driver and passenger of one vehicle exited their car when a second crash occurred, striking both of them.

Officers say the driver was propelled over the guardrail and fell about 40 feet down beneath the bridge. She was eventually transported to a local hospital with major injuries.

The passenger, identified by the coroner as 61-year-old Gustavo Villanueva Vargas, was hit by a vehicle and came to a rest on the right shoulder of the freeway. Vargas was pronounced dead at the scene by firefighters.

According to CHP, fog is believed to be a major factor, as visibility was severely impacted and was limited to less than an estimated 15 feet. The crash appears to have occurred after vehicles in the number one and number two lanes slowed down. The vehicles traveling behind them were traveling too fast to avoid a collision, leading to a series of other crashes.

Multiple other drivers and passengers involved in the collisions were also transported to local hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to major.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has additional information is encouraged to contact the CHP Fresno at 559-262-0400