Fresno County man killed in head-on crash after driving in wrong direction, CHP says
A Firebaugh man was killed in a head-on collision in rural Madera County, the California Highway Patrol said Monday.
The 89-year-old man was headed west on 7 1/2 Avenue west of Firebaugh Boulevard about 5 p.m. Sunday when for an unknown reason he began driving in the wrong direction in the eastbound lane, CHP said.
The driver of a 2021 Toyota Venza, 43-year-old Jael Louise Cook of Lemoore, was able to swerve out of the way but was sideswiped by the 89-year-old’s Nissan Frontier, CHP said.
The Nissan then struck a 2010 Toyota Sequoia head-on, CHP said. That Toyota driver, Antonio Gonzalez, 43, of Fresno, had minor injuries and was taken to Madera Community Hospital, according to CHP.
The 89-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, CHP said, adding that drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the fatal collision.
