A tragic head-on collision that ended in flames in Fresno County claimed at least one life late Tuesday afternoon. KFSN-TV reported the accident happened around 5:40 p.m. outside of Coalinga on Highway 145 just east of Interstate 5 on February 23, 2021.
The California Highway Patrol says an SUV was traveling south when it crossed over into the northbound lanes and into the path of a pick-up truck. The head-on impact left the truck overturned and also caused the vehicle to catch fire.
The CHP reported that one person in the truck was killed. It was not immediately known if there was anyone else in the truck at the time of the crash. The woman driving the SUV suffered moderate injuries and was transported to the Community Regional Medical Center.
Investigators are trying to determine what caused her to lose control of her SUV.
Dangerous Accidents Involving Vehicle Fires in Fresno County
A devastating accident can expose victims to so many different types of hazards. They can cause severe injuries for victims and in the most tragic cases cost someone a life. Head-on collisions can involve extreme forces and the impact can be enough to send a car rolling over. The results can leave the occupants also facing the possibility of a vehicle catching fire and creating another frightening hazard to overcome for victims and emergency responders.
Fire departments and rescue crews deal with these dangerous outcomes every day across the nation. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) records these cases yearly and studied their effects over a four-year span. They found that there were on average around 171,500 vehicle fires on highways each year, but a large portion of those incidents aren’t sparked by vehicle accidents. They are often caused by an engine issue or another malfunction in a vehicle. Only 5% of the reported fires were the result of a collision, yet that small percentage was responsible for over 60% of highway fire fatalities.
Accidents that involve a rollover can also put occupants at extreme risk. Safecar.gov finds that crashes involving rollovers can put victims in severe jeopardy and have an incredibly high rate of traumatic injuries and fatalities when compared to other types of crashes. Only 2% of all passenger vehicle accidents involve a rollover in an average year in the U.S. Yet, sadly, rollovers account for nearly 35% of all deaths attributed to passenger vehicle crashes.
Legal Advice for Victims and Families After a Fresno County Accident
For the victims and the family members of victims, a terrible accident will be a devastating event that will leave everyone feeling at their most vulnerable. Unfortunately, insurance companies for at-fault drivers can seize on this difficult time and keep vital information on a family’s rights after an accident from those that need that information the most.
If you or a family member is ever the victim of a serious crash be sure to speak to an attorney who specializes in person injury and focuses on Fresno County for a free consultation.
