1 dead and 2 injured after accident on I-80 in Sacramento in which 3 vehicles went up in flames, the CHP reports

A driver who failed to see traffic ahead of him on Interstate 80 in Sacramento collided with a vehicle on Monday, setting three vehicles on fire and one person dying in the flames while firefighters took two others to the hospital, authorities said.

A pickup truck driver heading east on Interstate 80, east of Interstate 5, around 4:30 p.m. failed to see cars in front of him and crashed into a Toyota Tacoma, said Officer Justin Fetterly, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol's North Sacramento office.

The collision triggered a chain reaction that caused three vehicles to burst into flames, Fetterly said.

Two people suffered “moderate” injuries and were taken to the hospital, said Capt. Justin Sylvia, a spokesman for the Sacramento Fire Department, who noted that a total of five vehicles were involved in the incident.

The driver of a Toyota Tacoma died at the scene, Fetterly said. The person's identity has not yet been determined, but the victim's name is expected to be released by the Sacramento County Coroner's Office.

The driver of the pickup truck suffered “minor” injuries, Fetterly said. Investigators do not believe that drunk driving was a factor in the accident.

The CHP closed three eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 while investigating the accident scene. There was no estimated time for reopening, but traffic was flowing in the two open lanes.