Fresno County, CA – On Thursday afternoon, May 16, 2024, two people lost their lives and two others sustained injuries in a two-vehicle collision near Sanger, according to KSEE with additional reporting from The Fresno Bee.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) spokesman Mike Salas stated that the incident occurred at approximately 2:10 PM at the intersection of De Wolf and North Avenues. According to Salas, a red sedan was traveling northbound on De Wolf Avenue, approaching a stop sign at the intersection with North Avenue. Meanwhile, a Chevrolet Silverado truck was heading eastbound on North Avenue, which has the right-of-way and no posted stop sign.
The driver of the sedan, for reasons still under investigation, entered the intersection from the stop sign directly into the path of the Chevrolet. The Chevrolet struck the sedan on the driver’s side, causing significant damage to both vehicles.
Tragically, the impact resulted in the deaths of a man and a woman inside the sedan. They were pronounced dead at the scene by responding officers. The two occupants of the Chevrolet sustained moderate injuries and were transported to Community Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Salas mentioned that neither driver intoxication nor excessive speed are believed to be factors in this collision. The precise cause of the accident remains under investigation by the CHP as they work to determine why the Chrysler entered the intersection at that moment.
Wrongful Death Claims
Establishing fault in a collision can depend on multiple factors. Helping to determine legal liability is one of the ways that a personal injury attorney can help grieving families recovering from the loss of a loved one in a traffic accident.
Suppose it is determined that another party holds some portion of responsibility for their loved one’s death. In that case, they may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim with the insurance provider of the at-fault driver. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation to help cover hospital fees, burial costs, and the loss of support for dependents of the deceased.
