Seven people, including five children, involved in deadly two-vehicle crash in Fresno County
One person died early Saturday night and six other people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a tractor and a van carrying a mom and her five children on a dark Fresno County road.
The crash happened at 5:18 p.m. on North Piedra Road near East Weldon Avenue, just outside Sanger, the California Highway Patrol said.
A 57-year-old man driving the tractor was killed as he was attempting to help a neighbor whose truck had run into a ditch. It was unclear Saturday whether the tow line had been hooked up or if the neighbors were still working on the line.
The mom, 41, of Reedley, driving with five children ages 8 to 16, apparently could not see the tractor in time.
“The tractor, (it) appears may not have any lighting that was working whatsoever,” CHP Sgt. Mark Steadmon said. “It is dark out here and there are no street lights. It was very difficult for the driver to see the tractor until it was too late.”
An earlier account provided by the CHP to The Bee had incorrectly stated a man driving the van had been killed. The woman and the children, the only occupants of the van, suffered minor to moderate injuries, Steadmon said.
The pickup driver was not hurt in the crash but fell and hurt his hip after the crash.
This story was originally published November 20, 2021 at 9:02 PM.
