Yourcentralvalley.com reports on a fatal west Fresno County car wreck Saturday afternoon in which intoxication is believed to be a factor.
The California Highway Patrol stated that the crash was reported to law enforcement around 4:10 pm on Saturday and took place on Highway 128 in the area of the Parkfield Grade, west of Coalinga. A silver Toyota Corolla, driven by a 28-year-old Los Angeles man, was eastbound on 128 when the driver lost control of the vehicle and spun out into a dirt embankment. The impact forced the car to overturn and come to a halt on the embankment.
The passenger in the right front seat of the Toyota Corolla suffered severe injuries and was medically evacuated to a nearby hospital. However, they were declared dead while en route. In the meantime, the driver suffered moderate injuries according to officers arriving on-scene.
Alcohol and/or drugs are believed to have been a major factor in the causality of the car crash and resultant fatality. California Highway Patrol spokespeople have stated that the driver was arrested and taken to Fresno County Jail, and is facing felony charges of vehicular manslaughter as well as driving under the influence (DUI.)