Two dead, 15 injured in King City Highway 101 pileup

An eight-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 101 near King City Wednesday night left two people dead and injured 15 others, according to Cal Fire officials.

Cal Fire along with South Monterey County Fire Protection District crews responded to a pile-up blocking both directions of the highway around 8:55 p.m. about a mile north of Jolon Road, near King City, fire officials said.

Firefighters found eight vehicles involved in the crash with two people pronounced dead at the scene, according to fire officials.

Fifteen others suffered various injuries in the crash. Four had to be extricated from their cars, with fire crews using hydraulic tools to rescue the victims, officials said.

Three air ambulances took three victims to hospitals while five ground ambulances took four people to hospitals. Eight others involved in the crash refused to be transported for medical treatment, officials said.

The freeway was blocked in both directions for hours. Debris from the crash was strewn up to 100 yards away along the freeway, officials said.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.