Around 4 p.m. on March 11, California Highway Patrol officers and Cal Fire responded to Highway 180 near Old Oak Road after they were notified about a collision in the area involving two vehicles.
Fresno County, CA – A woman died, and four others were hospitalized after a Highway 180 crash that happened Wednesday afternoon near Dunlap.
Around 4 p.m. on March 11, California Highway Patrol officers and Cal Fire responded to Highway 180 near Old Oak Road after they were notified about a collision in the area involving two vehicles.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a man was driving a Tesla westbound when, for an unknown reason, he allowed the car to cross into the eastbound lane, where it collided with a Kia Soul driven by a woman in her 20s.
The impact caused the Kia to go off the road and crash about 25-30 feet down an embankment.
The woman driving the Kia was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man driving the Tesla was transported to Community Regional Medical Center with major injuries.
Another woman in her 20s who was a passenger in one of the cars, and a child under the age of five were also taken to Community Regional Medical Center. Another child under the age of five was transported to Valley Children’s Hospital. Both children were in car seats at the time of the collision.
Authorities said one of the four patients was airlifted to the hospital due to the extent of their injuries. It was unclear who the patient was and which hospital they were taken to.
Drugs are believed to have been a contributing factor. The Tesla driver was arrested following the crash.
Highway 180 was closed for about an hour during investigation and cleanup.
According to the Fresno Area CHP, fatal collisions dropped by 9% in 2024, with 79 recorded incidents compared to 87 the previous year. Despite this progress, the county remains a critical area for serious injuries; data from the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan reveals that between 2019 and 2023, an average of 40 people were killed and 125 severely injured annually. Over 91% of these severe crashes occur on high-speed arterials and collectors like Shaw and Herndon Avenues.
The county’s 2026 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) initiative highlights that while urban areas see higher crash volumes, rural corridors like Highway 99 continue to experience disproportionately high fatality rates per mile. Primary crash factors in the region include distracted driving and DUI-related impairment, which historically account for over 35% of fatal incidents.
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Were you injured or did you lose a loved one in this traffic collision? You may have the right to seek compensation. A professional car accident lawyer can help you in your pursuit of justice. Visit our wrongful death lawyer page to learn more about the legal options available for you.