27-year-old man thrown from truck in fatal crash in Madera County, CHP says
A nearly head-on collision in Madera County ended in the death of one driver, the California Highway Patrol said on Wednesday.
A 27-year-old man from Modesto driving a white Dodge Dakota was pronounced dead after striking another vehicle, leaving the road and striking a pole, the CHP said. He has not been named pending the notification of next of kin.
The driver was headed east in the Dodge on Avenue 7 1⁄2 east of Road 9 in rural Madera County about 5:06 a.m. Tuesday, CHP said.
At the same time, a 47-year-old man from Madera in a white Chevrolet Cobalt was headed the other direction, CHP said.
Officers said it is unclear why, but the Dodge veered into the path of the Chevy. The Chevy driver attempted to avoid the crash, but the front of the Dodge clipped the rear driver’s side of the Chevy, CHP said.
The Dodge careened off the north shoulder, struck a power pole and overturned, throwing the unrestrained driver from the truck, according to CHP.
The 27-year-old was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, CHP said. The 47-year-old was wearing a seatbelt during the crash and escaped with minor injures, according to officers.
The CHP said it was not immediately clear if the truck driver was impaired at the time of the crash.
