Five killed and two critical in car crash north of Fresno, California

By Michelle Watson, CNN

Five people died in a car crash Saturday morning north of Fresno, California, an official with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) told CNN.

A Hyundai Accent traveling south on Millerton Road around 4:30 a.m. “crossed over the double yellow lines” and hit a northbound Honda Accord, Lt. J. Castaneda with CHP said.

A collision report from CHP noted the driver of the Hyundai is believed to have been a 20-year-old man, according to preliminary investigations. The driver of the Honda is believed to have been a 42-year-old man, the report said.

“For reasons yet to be determined, the driver of the Hyundai allowed his vehicle to steer to the left, crossing over the center double yellow lines,” and entering the path of the approaching Honda, the report said.

Four occupants in the Hyundai, including the driver, were killed, and one person in the Honda died, Castaneda said.

Two remaining passengers in the Honda were taken to a hospital and were in critical condition, Castaneda said.

Alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash, according to a collision report from CHP.

“The use of alcohol is believed to have been a factor in this collision on the part of the Hyundai driver,” the report said.

The people involved in the crash were believed to be in their 30s and 40s and thought to be local area residents, Castaneda had told CNN previously. The CHP report noted another person among those involved in the crash, other than the Hyundai driver, was in their 20s.

The investigation is ongoing, CHP said.

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