Update: Truck driver may face manslaughter charge in deadly Fresno County crash, CHP says
A truck driver is being investigated for his role in a deadly crash Wednesday night at a rural Fresno County intersection, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision occurred about 6:05 p.m., CHP spokesman Mike Salas said, as the semi was northbound on Temperance Avenue, approaching Lincoln Avenue, in Fowler.
The driver of a sedan was eastbound on Lincoln when the truck driver appeared to fail to see the car approaching and entered the intersection directly in the sedan’s path, according to CHP.
Temperance Avenue is controlled by stop signs and Lincoln Road is not.
The sedan struck the left side of the big rig’s trailer and the driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. She was identified Thursday as Lorene Negrete, 57, of Del Rey, according to the Fresno County Coroner.
Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor, Salas said. Preliminary details from the investigation indicate all occupants were wearing seatbelts.
The driver of the truck, 29-year-old Pardeep Kumar of Fremont, has cooperated with the investigation but likely will face a charge of vehicular manslaughter, according to the CHP.
This story was originally published November 25, 2020 at 7:41 PM.
