Top stories: Friant safety upgrades; Fresno crash victim ID; deputy shoots suspect

On Wednesday, The Bee covered stories that spanned safety improvements at an intersection known for its violent crashes, an update on a fatal collision and a deputy-involved shooting.

Here are the top stories:

• Crashes reduced at infamous Fresno intersection after safety measures. What’s next? Crashes at the intersection of Friant Road and Shepherd Avenue have dropped sharply since safety upgrades were installed in April, with just one major crash in four months compared to roughly one per month before. The main fix was adding a dedicated traffic light for each northbound lane on Friant Road. Councilmember Nick Richardson said the intersection now feels significantly safer.
• Coroner ID’s driver who died in rear-end crash that also killed dog in Fresno. The Fresno County Coroner’s Office identified Daniel Martinez, 63, as the driver killed Monday when his sedan was rear-ended at Gettysburg and Maple avenues. Martinez died at the scene along with a dog inside his car. At least three vehicles were struck, including two parked along Gettysburg Avenue.
• Fresno County deputy shoots suspect after violent confrontation, sheriff says. A Fresno County deputy shot a suspect Tuesday evening after a physical altercation while responding to a reported home invasion. The suspect was allegedly threatening to kill residents. Sheriff John Zanoni said the deputy fired approximately three rounds in self-defense, striking the suspect, who is in critical condition. The deputy was also hospitalized for injuries.

Original stories by Bryant-Jon Anteola, Joshua Tehee and Anthony Galaviz.

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