LOS BANOS, Calif. - One person remained in serious condition early Tuesday after a fatal, four-vehicle accident on Interstate 5 caused a tanker truck to spill a dangerous agricultural chemical.
Javier Tapia, 32, suffered serious inhalation burns from the anhydrous ammonia spilled when the truck overturned Monday. Tapia was a passenger in a car involved in the wreck.
The driver of the tanker truck, Joseph Zakhary, 63, of Stockton died in the accident. Coroner's officials have not determined whether he died from the chemicals or the crash. Two other people involved in the accident were treated and released from local hospitals Monday. A third person was treated at the scene.
The wreck happened after a trailer came loose from a flatbed truck. Tapia's car swerved to avoid the trailer and stopped in front of it.
The tanker swerved to avoid the trailer but was rear-ended by a van. At some point the rear tank ruptured, spilling about half its contents.
A spokesman from the tanker's owner, Bulk Transportation Co. of Walnut, Calif., did not return several calls seeking comment.
Thirteen miles of Interstate 5 were closed for nearly a day.
