Tragic incidents highlight road safety urgency

A series of tragic incidents highlights the urgent need for road safety reforms. The articles share the theme of fatal crashes due to various forms of negligence or violation of traffic laws.

In Fresno, a suspected DUI crash killed two men. The driver faced charges, including murder. In another incident in Madera, labor violations led to a van crash that killed seven farmworkers. The employer now faces legal action. Additionally, an altercation in Fresno resulted in a driver intentionally hitting bicyclists, leading to his arrest for assault. A hit-and-run on Mother's Day claimed the life of a bicyclist. Authorities later charged the suspect with multiple offenses.

Two men are dead after a two-vehicle collision at Palm and Belmont avenues in Fresno, California on Monday, Jan. 6, 2024. By ANTHONY GALAVIZ

NO. 1: UPDATE: FRESNO MEN KILLED IN SUSPECTED DUI CRASH IDENTIFIED. SUSPECT CHARGED WITH 2 MURDERS

The victims were 71 and 62 years old. | Published January 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Galaviz

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Three bicyclists were injured in a collision following a fight with a driver in Fresno on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. By ANTHONY GALAVIZ

NO. 2: BICYCLISTS INJURED IN ALTERCATION WITH MOTORIST IN FRESNO. DRIVER ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT

The 23-year-old driver hit two juveniles and a man with a Dodge SUV, police said. | Published February 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Galaviz

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The California Highway Patrol investigates a fatal hit-and-run in Fresno, California on Saturday, March 15, 2025. By ANTHONY GALAVIZ

NO. 3: CHP INVESTIGATES FATAL HIT-AND-RUN INCIDENT ON FRESNO ON-RAMP TOWARD HIGHWAY 99

Victim was unhoused, identity pending from Fresno County Coroner’s Office. | Published March 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Galaviz

Hundreds of candles sit at the base of a memorial dedicated to farm workers killed in a crash in Madera the morning of Feb. 23. The memorial is located on Avenue 7 near Road 22. By ERIK GALICIA

NO. 4: FARM’S LABOR VIOLATIONS CAUSED MADERA CRASH THAT KILLED 7 WORKERS LAST YEAR, FEDS SAY

The Trump administration’s secretary of labor has sued Selma-based Lion Farms, alleging it “willfully” violated federal law and endangered workers. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Erik Galicia

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Merced Sun-Star file photo. By Thaddeus Miller

NO. 5: 1 FARMWORKER KILLED, 7 INJURED IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASH IN MERCED COUNTY, CHP SAYS

They were in a van coming from Mendota in Fresno County, officers said. | Published May 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Galaviz

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A bicyclist was killed in a hit-and-run collision in Fresno, California By ANTHONY GALAVIZ

NO. 6: MAN ARRESTED IN ALLEGED HIT-AND-RUN DEATH ON MOTHER’S DAY. VICTIM ID’D BY CORONER

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday. | Published May 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Galaviz

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A vehicle went into a Fresno canal in a suspected DUI crash on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Two were rescued, but one person was swept away. By ANTHONY GALAVIZ

NO. 7: UPDATE: WOMAN WHO DROWNED IN SUSPECTED DUI COLLISION INTO FRESNO CANAL ID’D

Officers formed a human chain to get the victim out of the water. | Published June 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Galaviz

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.