CHP officials said debris from an overnight rockslide covered portions of the roadway, creating hazardous driving conditions.
Fresno County, CA – A driver suffered serious injuries early Monday morning after a rockslide caused a crash along Highway 168 in Fresno County, according to the California Highway Patrol.
CHP officials said debris from an overnight rockslide covered portions of the roadway, creating hazardous driving conditions. A 4×4 truck traveling downhill on December 5 struck the rocks, sustaining suspension damage. Shortly afterward, a Honda CR-V hit the debris and rolled over.
The driver of the Honda CR-V was seriously injured and transported for treatment.
Authorities said darkness and a curve in the roadway left little opportunity for drivers to avoid the rocks.
Caltrans crews responded and cleared the debris from the highway. CHP urged motorists to use caution in mountain areas during storms and to report roadway hazards as soon as possible.
The incident remains under investigation.
In 2023, Fresno County recorded 126 fatal collisions, a notable decrease from the 206 deaths reported in 2022, which aligns with an overall statewide decline in traffic fatalities. Despite this improvement, Fresno County continues to experience a high rate of traffic safety incidents, consistently ranking among the leading counties in the state for fatalities. The total number of police-reported crashes in the City of Fresno alone reached 2,819 in 2023, with injury collisions far outnumbering fatal ones. According to 2023 data from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) via the UC Berkeley Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), there were 5,377 victims killed and injured in total fatal and injury collisions countywide. Vulnerable road users remain a significant concern, with 292 pedestrians and 144 bicyclists killed or injured in 2023, keeping these groups at elevated risk. Common factors contributing to crashes in Fresno include speeding, impaired driving, and distracted driving, issues the OTS addresses through various grant-funded programs and enforcement strategies.
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