FRESNO, California – Investigators are asking for the public’s help in determining what led to an accident in which seven children and two adults were killed on New Year’s Day in Central California.
According to the California Highway Patrol, everyone who reported Friday’s fatal crash on rural State Route 33 came to the scene after the collision. The CHP hopes to speak to witnesses who saw what happened in the seconds before the SUV and the truck collided between Avenal and Coalinga.
The children, who were between 6 and 15 years old, were members of two related families traveling in a Ford F-150 truck that was hit by a Dodge Journey SUV at about 8 p.m., the Coroner office said. in Fresno County and the CHP said.
Evidence from the scene indicated that the Dodge, driven by a 28-year-old man, was traveling south on the highway when he turned on the dirty shoulder for an unknown reason. The driver then over-corrected and swerved into the southern lane, where it hit the Ford driven by a woman, officials said.
The Ford burst into flames on the dirty shoulder, while the Dodge came to a halt across both lanes of the highway, the CHP said.
“When the fire was extinguished, it was tragically discovered that there were eight occupants, of whom seven were youths in the Ford,” said CHP Capt. Kevin Clays said at a news conference Saturday. “We are working with the Cores office in Fresno County to identify the residents.”
The driver of the Dodge, the sole occupant of the SUV, has been identified as Daniel Luna of Avenal.
It was unknown whether alcohol or drugs were a factor, pending the toxicological results. Investigators will try to determine how fast both vehicles were driving during the crash, the Fresno Bee reports.
Weather or other road conditions do not appear to be a factor, officials said.
“Highway 33 is pretty straight at this place and there are not many collisions at the same place where this collision took place,” Clays said. “It’s well maintained.”
Clays said advice was offered to the officers who responded to the crash.