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New details on fatal 4-vehicle crash on Highway 43 near Selma

- The Fresno Bee

Saturday, Mar. 16, 2013 | 11:15 PM

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Update: The California Highway Patrol released new details Sunday afternoon about a Friday night crash near Selma that killed one man and injured three others, including a 3-year-old boy.

Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the crash, the CHP said, although initial reports blamed the accident on drunk driving.

Victoria Robinson, the driver who started the collision when she drove south in the northbound lane of Highway 43 north of Cairo Avenue and hit a pickup truck, is from Rocklin, the CHP said. Her age was not released.

The pickup she hit was driven by Richard Martin, 55, of Hanford who did not sustain any injuries, the CHP said. Martin’s truck was sideswiped by Robinson’s car causing it to flip over and strike a wooden power pole.

Robinson then hit a Mazda head on killing the driver. His passenger was identified Sunday as a 3-year-old boy. The boy suffered major injuries and was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. Robinson was also airlifted to the hospital with major injuries.

The fourth vehicle involved was driven by Michael Yaskow, 32, of Lemoore. Yaskow crashed into the rear of the Mazda. A passenger in his car was taken to Adventist Medical Center - Hanford for treatment.

Upon medical release, Robinson will be booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, the CHP said.


Update: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that two people died in the crash, based on incorrect information from the California Highway Patrol.


Drunken driving is being blamed for a fiery four-vehicle collision that killed one man and injured at least three other people Friday night near Selma, the California Highway Patrol said.

The CHP said Victoria Robinson, whose age and hometown were not released, was driving south on Highway 43 north of Cairo Avenue about 9:05 p.m. when her 2000 Lexus GS 3000 went into the opposing lane and hit a 1991 GMC pickup.

The pickup driver, who was not identified, saw the car coming and moved to the right shoulder to avoid a head-on collision, the CHP said. The left side of Robinson's car sideswiped the left side of the pickup, causing the truck to hit a power pole and flip on its side.

Robinson's car kept moving south and struck a 2008 Mazda 3 head on.

Meanwhile, Matthew Yaskow, whose age and hometown were not released, was driving a 2012 Chevy Malibu behind the Mazda, saw the head-on crash, braked to try to avoid a rear-end collision but struck the back of the Mazda.

A fire then broke out involving the Lexus, Mazda and Malibu.

People stopped to help and removed the victims from the wreckage, the CHP said.

The driver of the Mazda died at the scene, the CHP said.

The Fresno County Coroner's Office website reports that Arthur Lara, 31, of Selma, died in the crash.

A passenger in the Malibu was hurt and taken to Hanford Medical Center, while Robinson and a passenger in the Mazda were airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno with moderate to major injuries.

Upon medical release, Robinson will be booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and DUI, the CHP said.


The reporter can be reached at (559) 441-6104, lgriswold@fresnobee.com or @fb_LewGriswold on Twitter.

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