Two dead after motorcycle crashes into car following deputy pursuit in Fresno, police say
Two people died Saturday morning in a collision following a law enforcement pursuit in Fresno.
Fresno Police Lt. Henry Garcia III said just after 1:30 a.m. deputies with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office were pursuing a motorcycle north on Maroa Avenue approaching Ashlan Avenue.
The motorcyclist drove into the intersection at a high rate of speed and crashed into a dark-colored sedan that was in motion, killing the rider and the driver, Garcia said.
The departments Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated the collision to determine who was at fault, Garcia said.
“We’re also looking at whether or not FSO stopped the pursuit prior to the collision,” he said.
Garcia said deputies saw a motorcycle that was driving recklessly around the city and got behind the rider and began a pursuit.
Deputies asked for air support and additional help before the motorcyclist entered the intersection.
“As far as we know, the deputies that were involved (said) the black sedan was not associated with the pursuit,” Garcia said.
“It was just a lone vehicle driving westbound Ashlan when that motorcycle was driving at a high rate of speed that it was not able to stop in time and collided with the driver in that black sedan.”
The intersection was closed for several hours.
