Fresno toddler, 2 others suffer major injuries in suspected drunken-driving crash, police say

An alleged drunken driver slammed into the back of a Jeep on Saturday night, sending three people, including a toddler, to the hospital with major injuries, Visalia police said.

Jerardo Cortes, 23, of Visalia, was driving a 2015 Chevy Camaro on Ben Maddox Way around 11:30 p.m., when he rear-ended a 2014 Jeep Patriot at Goshen Avenue, police said.

Inside the Patriot was driver Rosa Menera, 28; passenger Marco Menera, 27; and a 3-year-old girl who was sitting in the back. The driver and the toddler suffered major injuries and the passenger had head trauma. All three were taken to the hospital. They are from Fresno, police said.

Cortes was uninjured and arrested on suspicion of DUI. Police said speeding was also a factor in the crash.

This story was originally published March 24, 2019 at 10:01 AM with the headline "Fresno toddler, 2 others suffer major injuries in suspected drunken-driving crash, police say."