UPDATE (10:40 p.m.) – The CHP has identified an Atascadero woman who was seriously injured after a crash involving a big rig on the Cuesta Grade.
The CHP says Shannon Schmidt, 44, was hospitalized with major injuries after the crash Wednesday. Her 9-year-old son was also hospitalized with moderate injuries.
The CHP says Schmidt had moved into the #3 lane to pass a slower vehicle but ended up colliding with the back of a big rig.
A Santa Maria man was driving the semi-truck. He wasn’t injured.
UPDATE (5 p.m.) – The SUV and big rig involved in a crash on the Cuesta Grade have been removed from the scene and traffic is beginning to flow more quickly through the area.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the big rig was traveling southbound at 35 miles per hour when the SUV slammed into the back of the truck at a significant speed.
The driver of the SUV, a 44-year-old woman from Atascadero, suffered serious head injuries. A nine-year-old boy in the SUV reportedly had minor injuries. The truck driver was not injured.
UPDATE (4:17 p.m.) – The California Highway Patrol reports that two people involved in the crash on the Cuesta Grade Wednesday were taken to area hospitals.
Currently, one lane of traffic is open southbound while the SUV and big rig are being removed. The northbound lanes are not directly impacted but traffic may be slower than usual.
A major crash is slowing traffic on the 101 along Cuesta Grade. Dustin Klemann is there with more details.
Posted by KSBY on Wednesday, February 20, 2019
(3:26 p.m.) – A crash involving a big rig and an SUV was causing a traffic backup on the Cuesta Grade north of San Luis Obispo Wednesday afternoon.
It happened at about 3 p.m. in the far right lane of southbound Highway 101.
Additional lanes may be blocked due to emergency vehicles at the scene. The California Highway Patrol and CAL FIRE were responding.
The SUV crashed into the back of the big rig but no other details about the cause of the crash were immediately available.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area if possible.
This is a developing story and will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
An SUV crashed into the back of a semi on the Cuesta Grade. Crews working hard, few details at the moment. @KSBY pic.twitter.com/bPrz8mHqeH
— Dustin Klemann (@Djklemann) February 20, 2019
