Fresno man, 58, killed after jumping car over San Joaquin River after police pursuit, cops say

A 58-year-old Fresno man died after speeding off an embankment and hurtling his Mercedes about 400 feet over the San Joaquin River on Monday morning.

The man was identified Monday evening by the Fresno County coroner’s office as David Callahan.

Fresno police officers began pursuing Callahan around 8:30 a.m. at Herndon Avenue and Parkway Drive west of Highway 99 after seeing him driving recklessly, Sgt. Bob Reynolds said.

The chase began at slow speeds, about 30 mph, Reynolds said, until Callahan sped up near Dickenson and Barstow avenues. Police decided to call off the pursuit at that point, Reynolds said, as Callahan drove west away from city limits.

Shortly after, first-responders were called out to the river at Dickenson and Herndon and found he had cleared the river and crashed into the Madera County side. Callahan was killed in the crash, Reynolds said.

The car was a silver Mercedes sedan, according to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Matt Zulim. Investigators estimate he was traveling at over 100 mph and didn’t make any attempt to brake or change course before the car launched over the river.

Dickenson dead-ends into the river bluff.

“I don’t know if maybe he misjudged, (maybe) he didn’t know the river was here,” Reynolds said.

The CHP has taken over the investigation.

This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 11:55 AM.