Clovis High student killed in suspected street-racing crash on Fresno County mountain highway

A Clovis High School student was identified Thursday morning as the driver who was killed in a suspected street-racing crash on Highway 168, the Fresno County Coroner reported.

Alex Ounmano, 17, died at the scene of the crash on the four-lane portion of the highway between Vista Point and Beal Fire Road around 2:25 p.m. Wednesday.

A girl passenger in his car, also a 17-year-old Clovis High student, was injured in the crash and hospitalized in critical condition.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday she is stable but has a serious head injury.

“She is able to talk and doctors are hopeful she will recover,” sheriff’s office spokesman Tony Botti said.

CHP spokesman Mike Salas said three vehicles were racing at speeds around 85 mph to 100 mph downhill at the time of the incident.

Ounmano (pronounced OO-MAH-noh) was driving one of the vehicles, a 1996 Acura Integra, and crashed into the mountainside. Both Ounmano and the girl passenger were wearing seat belts but were still ejected from the car.

CHP said the drivers of the other two vehicles stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected. The investigation is ongoing.

Clovis Unified School District officials are reaching out to students in an effort to help them deal with the tragedy, said district spokeswoman Kelly Avants.

Avants said that because students are distance learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials are handling the situation in a special manner. Teachers have been provided with information on the situation to share with their students. A crisis response team is also engaged to help the community cope with the losses.

Avants said the district was also preparing a video to share with students and their parents, because a robocall to families would not be appropriate.

This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 11:29 AM.