In just two days, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to four accidents within the Visalia, California area, three of which resulted in fatalities while the other left one person with serious injuries.
On April 2nd, at approximately 8:08 p.m., officers from the Visalia Area CHP Office responded to a traffic collision involving two vehicles. It was determined to be a fatal head-on collision between two vehicles.
A 32-year-old male from Cutler, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was driving a 2005 Honda CR-V north on State Route 245, or Millwood Drive, just north of Avenue 368. Luis Garcia, 38, from Woodlake, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe southbound towards the Honda. For reasons yet to be determined, the Honda driver failed to maintain his lane as he traversed a curve and allowed his vehicle to travel into the southbound lane immediately to his left. After leaving his lane, the Honda collided head-on with the Chevrolet within the southbound lane. The Honda driver was not wearing his seatbelt and as a result of this collision, suffered fatal injuries. The Chevrolet driver was not transported. It is unknown if alcohol was a factor and the investigation is ongoing.
That same morning, on April 2nd, at approximately 2:20 a.m., a collision involving two vehicles was reported on Hillman Street near Oakdale Avenue in Visalia. Officers from the Visalia Area CHP Office were dispatched to the scene to investigate. Alcohol was suspected to be a factor in this crash.
Preliminary investigation indicates that Maxwell Barrios, 25, from Tulare, was driving a 2016 Honda HR-V southbound on Hillman Street near Oakdale Avenue at an unknown speed. At the same time, Geneva Fernandez, 20, from Tulare, was driving a 1996 Dodge 1500 on Hillman Street ahead of the Honda's location at an unknown speed. Due to the level of suspicion of impairment of Barrios, he allowed the Honda to crash into the back of the Dodge directly ahead of his location.
As a result of the Honda colliding with the rear of the Dodge, the Dodge rolled over and subsequently came to a stop on the roadway. The Dodge driver, Fernandez, and her passenger, Heaven Fernandez, 19, suffered serious injuries and were transported to Kaweah Medical Center for treatment. Barrios was subsequently arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) and transported to the Tulare County Adult Probation Facility.
On April 1st, at approximately 8:19 p.m., a single-vehicle collision was reported on Highway 198 and Road 196. Officers from the Visalia Area CHP Office were dispatched to the scene to investigate.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a 32-year-old man from Lindsay, California was driving a 2005 Honda eastbound on Highway 198, approaching Road 196. For unknown reasons, the driver allowed the Honda to leave the roadway and cross the center divider and traffic lanes westbound. The Honda rolled over on the north edge of the roadway and was ejected without being secured by a seatbelt. He was transported to Kaweah Delta Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in this crash. The California Highway Patrol wants to remind people to always wear their seatbelts.
In the early hours of April 1st, at approximately 1:13 a.m., a single-vehicle collision was reported in a water canal on Road 92, south of Oakdale Avenue in Tulare. Officers from the Visalia Area CHP Office were dispatched to the scene to investigate. Preliminary investigation indicated that a 32-year-old man from Tulare, California was driving a 2000 Honda northbound on Highway 92 south of Oakdale Avenue. For unknown reasons, the driver applied the brakes and turned the steering wheel to the left. The Honda skidded across the southbound lane of Highway 92 and onto the west shoulder of the dirt. The Honda began to rotate counterclockwise towards a water flowing canal. The right rear collided with the concrete bridge wall, rotated, and collided with the canal.
The driver was not wearing his seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in this crash. The California Highway Patrol wants to remind people to always wear their seatbelts.
Originally posted at Liga Legal® Abogados
