Jacob’s Journal – Weekly News Rewind (08/29-09/04)

Truck Spills Nearly 300,000 Tomatoes on California Highway After It Overturned

Tuesday, August 30 (New York Post) – On Monday, a big rig traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 near Vacaville overturned, spilling nearly 300,000 tomatoes onto the highway. The truck hit another vehicle and crashed into the center median at around 5:00 a.m. according to USA Today. The collision involved three cars and hundreds more were impacted by the blocked roadway and slippery conditions created by the tomatoes. Several vehicles lost control and skidded. The California Highway Patrol reported no injuries. According to CBS News, the driver of the truck and two others were taken to a nearby hospital, while extensive delays were reported between San Francisco and Sacramento.

California Tesla Owner Files ‘Phantom Braking’ Lawsuit

Thursday, September 1 (FenderBender.com) – Due to a “phantom breaking” issue, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Tesla. The suit was filed by Jose Alvarez Toledo of San Francisco, according to Reuters, who owns a Tesla Model 3 that allegedly made sudden and unnecessary stops. Filed last Friday, the lawsuit claims the technology is unsafe and wants class action status for owners and lessees of impacted Tesla models in the U.S.

Reuters has reported the suit calls for compensatory and punitive damages for repair costs and diminished value of the vehicles. It also accuses the company of hiding its Autopilot ADAS system’s flaws. The suit comes after several National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigations into the technology.

One Person Killed in Motorcycle Crash on Highway 101 in Santa Barbara

Wednesday, August 31 (Independent.com) – On Wednesday morning, a 31-year-old man from Ojai was killed in a crash on Highway 101 in Santa Barbara. According to the California Highway Patrol, he was “traveling in and out of all traffic lanes, at a high rate of speed” on a 2022 Yamaha motorcycle. The motorcycle collided with a blue 2022 Honda CRV south of the Salinas Street offramp, ejecting the motorcyclist from his vehicle. The CHP, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, and American Medical Response were at the crash scene, where medical professionals pronounced the man dead. A 61-year-old woman from Ojai, the driver of the Honda, was not injured. The CHP is investigating the cause of the crash.