Victim in a three-car crash along Highway 180 in Fresno County has been ID’d as man, 60
A Sanger man was killed Saturday afternoon in a three-vehicle crash in Fresno County, with his name released a day later by the county Coroner’s Office.
The crash happened at 2:20 p.m. at Highway 180 and Oliver Avenue near Sanger, according to California Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Salas.
The man, identified Sunday as 60-year-old Israel Lara, was driving a Ford Escort south on Oliver when his car, after he stopped at the intersection, went into the path of a vehicle going west on Highway 180, Salas said. (The victim originally was said to be in his 50s).
The Escort was struck on the driver-side door by a Hyundai Tucson driven by a man in his 40s.
A Ford Econoline van, driven by a man in his 30s, then was unable to avoid the Hyundai and struck it.
All three vehicles came to rest on the northwest side of Oliver, just north of the highway.
Lara was pronounced dead at the scene.
Occupants in the other two vehicles suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital.
Traffic was diverted from westbound Highway 180 to old Highway 180 to get around the collision scene. Eastbound traffic was not blocked.
It was unknown if drugs or alcohol were a factor.
This story was originally published August 7, 2021 at 4:29 PM.
