FRESNO, California – Investigators are asking the public for help in determining what led to a frontal accident that killed seven children and two adults in central California on New Year’s Day.
The California highway patrol said that everyone who reported Friday’s accident on the State Route 33 rural road entered the scene after the collision. The CHP hopes to speak to witnesses who saw what happened seconds before the SUV and truck collided between Avenal and Coalinga.
The children, who were between 6 and 15 years old, were members of two related families traveling in a Ford F-150 truck that was hit around 8 pm by a Dodge Journey SUV, said the Fresno County coroner’s office and the CHP.
Evidence from the scene indicated that the Dodge, driven by a 28-year-old man, was traveling south on the highway when it turned onto the shoulder for an unknown reason, the CHP said. The driver then corrected too much and swerved to the south lane, where he hit the Ford driven by a woman, officials said.
The Ford burst into flames on the shoulder of the ground, while the Dodge stopped on both lanes of the highway, the CHP said.
“When the fire was extinguished, it was tragically discovered that there were eight occupants – seven of whom appeared to be minors – inside the Ford,” CHP captain Kevin Clays told a news conference on Saturday afternoon. “We are working with Fresno County Coroner’s Office to identify the occupants.”
The driver of the Dodge, the sole occupant of the SUV, was identified as Daniel Luna of Avenal.
It was not known whether alcohol or drugs were a factor, depending on the results of toxicology. Investigators will try to determine the speed of both vehicles at the time of the accident, Fresno Bee said.
Weather or other road conditions do not appear to be a factor, officials said.
“Highway 33 is quite straight at this location and there are not many collisions at the same location where the collision occurred,” said Clays. “It is well maintained.”
Clays said that counseling was offered to police officers who responded to the accident.