Four-vehicle crash leaves 2 dead, nine injured
–A four-vehicle crash west of the Cholame “Y” intersection early Friday resulted in two deaths and nine injuries, according to reports.
Catherine Ann Fox, 60, of Paso Robles, was driving a Chevy Cruze eastbound on Highway 46 about 5:56 a.m. when she drifted into the westbound lane for unknown reasons, reports say. Her car initially struck a Nissan Versa driven by Moises Hernandez, 28, of Avenal, before colliding head-on with a Toyota Sienna minivan transporting a driver and six farm workers. Hernandez’s vehicle then rotated counter-clockwise into the eastbound lane and was hit by a Chevy pickup truck driven by Paul Cardenassoto, 39, of Salinas, who was traveling eastbound.
Fox and Jesus Ontiveros, 45, of Tulare, who was driving the Toyota minivan, sustained fatal injuries in the head-on collision, reports say. Hernandez was transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo to be treated for major injuries.
Seven additional people were hurt in the collisions and were taken to various hospitals to be treated for minor to major injuries, reports say.
Four of the passengers riding in the Toyota minivan sustained major injuries during the collision: 50-year-old Manual Hernandez, 57-year-old Santiago Rodriguez, and 39-year-old Martin Hernandez, all of Tulare — were taken to Sierra Vista for treatment. Jose Luis Hernandez, 43, of Tulare, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for treatment.
The two remaining minivan passengers sustained moderate injuries: 28-year-old Victor M. Fernandez, of Tulare, was taken to Sierra Vista for treatment. 30-year-old Fermin Hernandez, of Kettleman City, was taken to Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton.
Jhoana Carranza, 27, of Avenal, who was riding in the Nissan Versa, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Sierra Vista.
Highway 46 was closed west of the Jack Ranch Cafe until 10 a.m., causing many semi trucks and vehicles to pull off the road or turn around, reports say.
Drugs and alcohol were not suspected to have been factors in the collisions, according to police.
Comments
