24-year-old man ID’d by coroner in suspected DUI crash in Fresno County
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Coroner identified Kevin Juarez, 24, as the fatal victim in Fresno DUI crash.
- Driver Juan Carlos Mendoza Jr. arrested on DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges.
- Two unbelted back-seat passengers faced greater risk; one died from injuries.
A fatal collision remains under investigation after a 24-year-old Fresno man was killed July 26.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash happened at 9:53 p.m. when officers responded to the area of Mt. Whitney Avenue, west of Cedar Avenue of a solo-vehicle collision.
CHP said 23-year-old Juan Carlos Mendoza Jr. was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe westbound when he veered off the road, crashing into a walnut orchard.
The SUV struck several trees and overturned and came to rest on its side, CHP said.
Four people were inside the SUV. The driver and a front passenger were wearing seat belts and suffered minor injuries. Two other passengers in the back seat were not wearing seat belts. Kevin Juarez, 24, of Fresno was unresponsive and was pulled from the vehicle.
CPR was performed and Juarez was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he died.
Mendoza was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury, CHP said.
Mendoza was booked into Fresno County jail.
