Driver survives overnight, rescued after pickup plunges off road near Pine Flat Reservoir

A person whose truck plunged off an embankment along a remote roadway on a rainy Saturday night near Pine Flat Reservoir was rescued Sunday morning after the pickup was located by a California Highway Patrol helicopter.

The incident was reported about 8:30 a.m. at Trimmer Springs and Maxon roads, according to the California Highway Patrol. A Fresno County sheriff’s spokesman said someone else in the area heard the person calling for help from a Toyota pickup.

According to the CHP, the crash took place overnight but the time was not provided. A team on the ground was able to locate the crash site and get the driver to safety.

The incident took place near where the body of missing Selma woman Jolissa Fuentes was found in October in what investigators believed was an accidental crash due to fatigue.

This story was originally published January 1, 2023 at 10:18 AM.