A man was struck and killed while trying to run across the freeway in Corning, forcing a full closure of Interstate 5. Just after Midnight Monday morning, a 39-year-old Corning man was trying to cross Interstate 5 from Rolling Hills Casino just south of the Liberal Avenue overpass. He was in the northbound lanes when he was hit by a Ford Edge driven by Estella Cedillo-Chavez of Fresno. After striking the man she stopped, blocking the slow lane as she started calling 9-1-1. About 2 minutes later a Ford Crown Victoria driven by 71-year-old William Ridge of Orland came along and ridge did not see the Edge in time and he rear-ended it. Ridge suffered major injuries. Cedillo-Chavez and the three women riding with her all suffered minor injuries. All five patients were transported to Enloe Hospital in Chico. The CHP does not suspect either driver of DUI. Traffic was diverted for about 2 hours as all lanes of I-5 were closed in both directions. Any possible witnesses are urged to call the CHP at 737-6746.
-Steve Gibson