Fairfield, CA : Two people died and Walnut Creek man injured in a three-car crash on Interstate 680 Saturday night, December 12, 2015

A Walnut Creek man was hospitalized in a three-car crash that killed two people on Interstate 680 Saturday night, the California Highway Patrol said.

James Hepner, 56, suffered moderate injuries and appears to have been driving too fast when the crash happened on northbound I-680, north of Gold Hill Road around 9:15 p.m., according to a statement from CHP spokesman officer David Harvey. Drugs and alcohol also appear to have been a factor in the crash, according to the CHP.

The 2000 Jeep Cherokee that Hepner was driving collided with a 2001 Lincoln Town car, which then collided with a 2009 Toyota Corolla.

The collisions caused the Lincoln to burst into flames, and trapped both of its occupants inside the car, Harvey said. The two, a 60-year-old woman and 66-year-old man from Fairfield, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Toyota suffered minor injuries and was treated and released at the scene.

According to the CHP, drugs and/or alcohol appear to be a factor in the crash. Hepner went to North Bay hospital, where he remained Sunday.

The CHP diverted traffic off I-680 at Gold Hill Road for about three hours while officers investigated.

Source :

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