Cloverdale, California – August 5, 2011

A semi hauling fuel smashed into a car Tuesday night killing a man from Santa Rosa.

The California Highway Patrol reports, 56-year-old Santa Rosa resident Terry Wood drove a 2007 Peterbilt semi pulling a tanker trailer with 4,400 gallons of fuel west on Oak Valley Road. About 8 p.m. Mr. Wood lost control of the truck causing the trailer to roll over.

Near the Sonoma County line the fuel tank smashed into an eastbound 2005 Toyota Camry driven by Luis A. Pacheco. The collision caused approximately 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline to pour onto the road and into a ditch.

Mr. Pacheco suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Mr. Wood was not harmed in the collision.

The exact location of this accident has not been released.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that more than 500,000 semis and large commercial vehicles were involved in traffic crashes in 2010. Those accidents resulted in injuries to more than 100,000 people and more than 5,000 deaths.

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