Teen driver and two children killed in Highway 41 head-on crash identified by coroner
Two children and a 19-year-old man who died following a head-on collision on Highway 41 in Kings County were identified Friday.
The fatal crash happened as the teen was trying to pass another car on the two-lane stretch of highway near Quebec Avenue about 7 p.m. Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The Kings County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as Airik Flores, 19; Jose Molina Jr., 5; and Aleida Ayala, 8. All three were from the Kettleman City area, and the two children went to Kettleman Elementary School.
Flores was driving a 2018 Honda Accord south on Highway 41 north of Kettleman City when he tried to pass other traffic by crossing over into the southbound lane, CHP said.
He crashed head-on with a 2006 Honda Odyssey van carrying four children and a woman, CHP said. Both vehicles went off the roadway into a ditch.
Flores and Molina were pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman and the other three children suffered major injuries and were taken to Community Regional Medical Center, CHP said. Ayala died at the hospital.
