Two big rigs were involved in a rollover crash at the southbound Highway 99 and the westbound Highway 120 Bypass connector at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening.
There was reportedly only one minor injury in the incident last night with the victim transported to a local hospital by ambulance while southbound Highway 99 traffic was backed up for hours while the major crash scene was cleared of parts from the two trucks. Traffic from the Mother Lode adds to the Highway 99 load of traffic as it approaches the same Highway 120 Bypass route.
 Manteca Fire crews assisted CHP with traffic control of detoured motorists and hazard mitigation while the big rigs were righted back on their wheels by heavy duty tow trucks. At least two freeway signs were sheared off by the impact of one of the vehicles.
While the majority of the countless serious collisions that have taken many lives and caused countless injuries have occurred on the eastbound side of the Highway 120 Bypass, few have occurred involving southbound vehicles that were merging onto the westbound bypass lanes.
Most accidents have involved traffic backing up with motorists waiting until the last second before reaching the eastbound transition ramp and rapidly changing lanes to get ahead of the backed up commercial trucks and cars approaching the southbound Highway 99 lanes.
The freeway bypass was opened in 1975 with a third passing lane that took some 20 lives in mostly head-on crashes during the first year of operation alone.  Fog was also a contributing factor then in the winter months – the frequency of fog lessening in recent years.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.