According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision occurred around 10:30 p.m. near Highway 180.
Fresno, CA. – Authorities identified 44-year-old Luis Ramos as the driver who died in a crash Wednesday night on Highway 99 in Fresno.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision occurred around 10:30 p.m. near Highway 180.
Ramos was driving a Nissan Sentra when he made an unsafe turn and traveled down an embankment.
The car hit a sign pole, causing the vehicle's engine to separate. The engine landed on the southbound lanes, where three passing vehicles struck it.
Emergency personnel responded to the scene and took Ramos to the hospital. The driver later died from his injuries.
The other three drivers involved in the crash sustained minor injuries.
It was unclear if drugs or alcohol were contributing factors.
Fresno remains a challenging environment for drivers and vulnerable road users, though recent data shows some improvement in fatal crash numbers, mirroring a statewide trend. In 2023, the City of Fresno recorded 2,819 police-reported crashes, which averages to about 7-8 per day, while Fresno County experienced 126 fatal collisions. The county's 2023 fatality count was a meaningful decline from a peak in 2022, aligning with California's overall 11% decrease in traffic deaths that year. A significant concern in the area is the high risk for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, with Fresno previously being ranked as the 10th most dangerous city in the USA for pedestrians between 2016 and 2020. Historically, key danger areas include urban arterial roads and Highway 99, which has been noted for poor lighting and high speeds contributing to fatal accidents. Leading causes of collisions in Fresno and the wider region include speeding, impaired driving, left turns, and distracted driving. Impaired driving accounts for a significant portion of serious incidents, and overall, most crashes result in injuries rather than fatalities.
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