Investigators are calling on the public for help in determining what led to a head-on collision that killed seven children and two adults in central California on New Year’s Day.
FRESNO, California – Investigators are asking for help from the public to determine what caused a head-on collision that killed seven children and two adults in central California on New Year’s Day.
The California Highway Patrol says everyone who reported Friday’s fire accident on Rural State Route 33 arrived at the scene after the collision. The CHP hopes to speak with witnesses who saw what happened seconds before the SUV and the truck collided between Avenal and Coalinga.
The children, who were between the ages of 6 and 15, were members of two related families traveling in a Ford F-150 truck that was hit around 8 p.m. by a Dodge Journey SUV, the county forensic office of Fresno and the CHP.
Evidence from the scene indicated that the Dodge, driven by a 28-year-old man, was traveling south on the road when it veered to the ground shoulder for an unknown reason, the CHP said. The driver then overtook himself and drove into the south lane, where he crashed into the Ford driven by a woman, officials said.
The Ford burst into flames on the shoulder of the ground, while the Dodge stopped riding between the two lanes of the highway, the CHP said.
“When the fire was extinguished, it was tragically discovered that there were eight occupants (seven of whom appeared to be minors) inside the Ford,” CHP Captain Kevin Clays told a news conference Saturday. the afternoon. “We are working with the Fresno County Forensic Office to identify the occupants.”
The driver of the Dodge, the sole occupant of the SUV, was identified as Daniel Luna of Avenal.
It was unknown whether alcohol or drugs were a factor, pending toxicology results. Investigators will try to determine how fast the two vehicles were traveling at the time of the crash, Fresno Bee reported.
Weather or other road conditions did not appear to be a factor, officials said.
“Highway 33 is pretty straight on this place and not many collisions occur at the same place where that collision occurred,” Clays said. “It’s well maintained.”
Clays said counsel has been offered to officers who responded to the crash.