A four vehicle crash on state Highway 12 resulted in one death and sent eight people to hospitals, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash occurred at 10:35 a.m., just west of the Solano County line, and closed the highway for eight hours.

The CHP has not released the name of the man who died, as his next of kin has yet to be notified. He was the driver of the 1997 Ford Escort which started the chain reaction crash. The Ford was traveling west when it crossed over the double-yellow line and drove into the path of an eastbound tractor-trailer which was hauling a bulldozer.

The CHP has said it is unknown if alcohol was a factor in the fatal car crash, but the accident occurred in a no-passing area of the two-lane highway. Following the head-on collision, the Ford was knocked back into the westbound lane, where it collided with a Toyota Sienna, and the tractor-trailer hit the guardrail on the westbound side before crashing into a Toyota Prius. The Ford’s driver died at the scene.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, Vincent Zediker, 41, of Montague, Calif., was not injured. The driver of the Sienna, Charlie Cha, 49, of Sacramento, and his six passengers suffered minor to moderate injuries. The driver of the Prius, Muriel Rollins, 58, of Pinole, suffered moderate injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, contact the Sacramento personal injury lawyers of John M. O’Brien & Associates, P.C. for experienced and qualified legal representation. A personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit may be able to provide you compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.