Two early morning accidents, one involving a CHP truck, backed up traffic in both Tehama and Shasta counties this morning. The first happened just after 6:30 on Interstate five near Bowman Road in Cottonwood. The CHP says the driver of a Scion was heading northbound on I-5 when she hit a big rig, sending the car spinning across the freeway and into the southbound lanes. The car then hit another car and a pick-up head-on. A CHP officer was getting onto Interstate five at the time and was hit by the pick-up, causing significant damage. The officer received moderate injuries. A total of five people were hurt and taken to the hospital.
The second accident happened just before 7:00 on Highway 44 near Interstate five in Redding. The CHP says the driver of this RV was driving too fast, lost control, and landed on its side. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence. Traffic was backed up for more than an hour as crews tried to clear the road.
