The wreck occurred around 12:15 a.m. on January 9 along Road 28½, north of Harper Boulevard.
Madera County, CA — On Wednesday, January 14, the Madera County Coroner’s Office identified 41-year-old Lashirah Bullard of Compton as the driver who died following a U-turn crash in eastern Madera County, marking the second fatal collision of its kind in that county in less than a week.
The wreck occurred around 12:15 a.m. on January 9 along Road 28½, north of Harper Boulevard.
A 21-year-old man from Madera was driving a 2026 Toyota Corolla southbound on Road 28 1/2, and Bullard was driving a 2011 Nissan Altima southbound on Road 28 1/2.
Bullard made a U-turn from the right shoulder, directly into the Toyota’s path, causing a collision. After the first impact, the Nissan continued in a southwesterly direction and stopped blocking the southbound lane of Road 28 1/2. The Toyota veered into a ditch.
Bullard was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts.
A passenger in Bullard’s vehicle was injured and transported to a hospital for treatment.
The driver of the Toyota was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation. Officials have not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol played a role, pending toxicology results.
The collision follows a similar U-turn crash earlier in the week on Highway 145, where three people were hospitalized and one later died, highlighting ongoing safety concerns surrounding improper U-turn maneuvers.
Recent car crash statistics for Madera County, California from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) show sustained levels of serious collisions in the past few years. In 2021, Madera County reported 1,128 total fatal and injury victims, placing it mid-range among California counties; alcohol-involved collisions accounted for 180 victims, and there were 211 speed-related injury/fatal collisions that year. 2022 saw a slight decrease to 1,033 total victims, with 186 alcohol-related injuries/fatalities and 159 speed-related collisions, ranking the county around the middle of statewide comparisons. In 2023, the total number of fatal and injury victims rose to 1,119, including 189 alcohol-involved cases and 176 speed-related collisions; pedestrian injuries also increased substantially, with 52 victims recorded. Across these recent years, DUI, speeding, and pedestrian crash categories remain significant components of Madera County’s OTS traffic crash profile.
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