Traffic was backed up for miles during the midday commute on State Route 99 between Avenue 9 and 12.
A little after noon on Thursday, Madera California Highway Patrol officers and emergency personnel responded to a crash between two big rigs on SR 99, just north of Avenue 12.
During the investigation, a big rig hauling a trailer loaded with vehicles was parked on the right shoulder, and possibly disabled. The male driver of the big rig was outside the vehicle, possibly laying on the shoulder, under the rear of the trailer.