Husband and wife die in crash at Fresno County intersection
UPDATE
Douglas Ward, 71, died Saturday at Community Regional Medical Center from injuries suffered in Thursday’s crash, the Fresno County Coroner’s Office reported.
His wife, Karen Ward, 68, died in the crash.
---
One woman died Thursday morning in a crash northeast of Fowler, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Douglas Ward, a 71-year-old Fresno man, was driving south with his wife, Karen Ward, on Fowler Avenue in his white Ford Fusion about 8:30 a.m. As he approached the intersection at American Avenue, he failed to stop and yield at the stop sign for approaching traffic.
The Fusion collided with a tractor-trailer traveling westbound on American Avenue and driven by Justo Cantu Jr., a 45-year-old Del Rey man. Cantu tried to turn left to avoid the collision but was unable to stop, the CHP said.
Stop signs with yellow warning signs stating “cross traffic does not stop” were posted on Fowler Avenue. In this case, Cantu had the right of way, the CHP reported.
Ward suffered major injuries and was transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. Karen Ward, a 68, died from her injuries.
Cantu was not injured, but he was not licensed to drive a commercial vehicle. He may face charges for the violation pending an investigation.
No drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash. The investigation is ongoing, CHP said.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 5:13 PM.