Fresno County, CA – In a devastating incident on Friday evening, April 19, 2024, three lives were lost in a crash in Caruthers, as reported by the Fresno Bee. The victims have been identified as Mark Bruce, 57, of Fresno; Blanca Villegas Martinez, 18, of Selma; and Dezirae Perez, 17, of Fresno.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the fatal collision occurred at 7 PM at the intersection of Highway 41 and Nebraska Avenue. A 2000 Chevy Silverado, driven by Bruce, was traveling westbound on Nebraska Avenue and failed to stop at the posted stop sign, leading to a collision with a 2020 Dodge Ram pulling a travel trailer that was heading southbound on Highway 41.
The impact of the crash forced both trucks down an embankment, resulting in fatal injuries for Bruce and the ejection of two passengers, Martinez and Perez, who tragically lost their lives at the scene. Another passenger sustained major injuries and was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in critical condition. The sheriff’s office revealed that all three victims were friends.
Additionally, the driver of the Dodge Ram suffered moderate injuries, while his male passenger sustained major injuries, and a juvenile passenger reported complaints of pain.
CHP continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, including whether drugs or alcohol played a role.
Wrongful Death Claims
Readers should remember that any statement from a news outlet that may appear to suggest fault in a vehicular accident might prove to simply been reporting the opinions of law enforcement based on initial investigations that may not be borne out by later evidence. All parties should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
While no amount of money can bring back those lost in a roadway fatality, the injury of their loss is often accompanied by the insult of an unanticipated financial burden for those they leave behind in the form of medical bills, funeral expenses, and the loss of income to support any dependents of the deceased.
If evidence indicates that an outside party or parties hold even partial responsibility for the collision that caused their death, a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help their grieving family to file a Wrongful Death Claim with the insurance provider of those responsible and then negotiate on their behalf to win proper compensation for their loss.
