FRESNO, California (AP) – Seven children and two adult drivers died in a frontal collision in central California on New Year’s Day, officials said.
The children, who were between 6 and 15 years old, were members of two related families traveling in a 2007 Ford that collided around 8 pm on Friday with a Dodge vehicle on State Route 33 between Avenal and Coalinga, the coroner’s office Fresno County and the California Highway Patrol said.
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 over corrected and swerved to the southern lane, where he hit the Ford driven by a woman.
The Ford burst into flames on the shoulder of the ground, while the Dodge stopped on both lanes of the highway, the CHP said. All eight people inside the Ford were killed, including the seven children.
The Dodge driver was identified as Daniel Luna from Avenal. The coroner’s office was working on identifying victims in the Ford.