Teens killed in Fresno County crash identified. ‘A huge loss,’ school district says
Two teens killed in a head-on collision over the weekend were identified Monday by the Fresno County Coroner’s Office.
Yareli Lemus Molina, 18, was driving and Dominick Reyes, 15, was the front passenger in a 2000 Toyota Camry involved in the collision with a 2006 Land Rover, the coroner confirmed.
Another teen was also in the Camry and suffered major injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol. A 57-year-old man and 52-year-old woman from Fresno in the Land Rover also had major injuries.
The three survivors were taken to Community Regional Medical Center.
Officers said they believed the teens had used marijuana, but the toxicology report was still pending, CHP said.
The Camry approached a slower moving car while headed south on Highway 43 about 10:15 p.m. Friday, CHP said.
The driver crossed a solid yellow line to go around the slower car on the two-lane highway near Davis Avenue and drove directly in the path of the Land Rover, CHP said.
The man driving the Land Rover could not take evasive action in time and the cars collided head-on, CHP said.
The two teens were pronounced dead at the scene, CHP said. The 15-year-old was not wearing a seatbelt.
Fresno Unified response
One of the teens killed was a student at Phoenix Secondary Academy, Fresno Unified School District spokesperson Nikki Henry confirmed in an email. She did not specify which teen.
“This loss is difficult for the entire Fresno Unified community and we are providing as much support as possible,” she said. “We have social-emotional supports deployed for students and staff, and our administration team is in touch with the family.”
“This is a huge loss and we ask everyone (to) keep our student’s family and friends in your thoughts.”
This story was originally published September 18, 2023 at 10:33 AM.
