The deadly incident happened in the southbound lanes just south of Avenue 11 on Thursday, December 11
Madera County, CA.- The California Highway Patrol is investigating a major collision that claimed the lives of two people on Highway 99 in Madera County on Thursday.
The deadly incident happened in the southbound lanes just south of Avenue 11 on Thursday, December 11.
The circumstances under which the accident happened were not immediately established. The CHP reported that two vehicles collided on southbound Highway 99, leading to the closure of at least one lane.
Two people were confirmed deceased following the incident. It’s unclear whether the victims died at the scene or after being transported to a hospital. Their identities were not immediately released.
The No.2 Lane remained closed as authorities performed cleanup at the site of the crash.
The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Madera County is one of California’s mid-sized counties but has been expanding in population, and as its population continues to grow, so has the number of traffic accidents. According to California Office of Traffic Safety reports, in 2022 the county recorded 1033 injuries and fatalities due to traffic-related accidents and this was slightly lower than 2021 when 1128 people fell victim to road accidents. Drunk drivers continue to be a risk in Madera County as seen in the OTS records with almost 14% of all accidents in 2022 being DUI-related. Other major causes included distracted-driving, unsafe passing, and speeding. Highway 99 is notably one of the highways regarded dangerous in Madera County due to the frequency of accidents occurring yearly. These accidents are mostly blamed on the high volume of traffic on the highway including large trucks. However, driver discipline can play a major role in improving road safety on Highway 99 and other roadways within Madera County.
Did You Lose Your Loved One in this Collision?
If you lost your loved one in this accident, you may have the right to seek for compensation. Visit our wrongful death lawyer page to learn more about the legal options you have.