8 Killed, 1 Injured in Fatal Car Accident in La Vina
MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2024) — Eight people are dead after a fatal head-on crash Friday morning at Avenue 7 and Road 22 in the La Vina area of Madera County.
The two-vehicle collision occurred at around 6:20 a.m. on Feb. 23rd, according to the California Highway Patrol.
UPDATE: Juvenal Jacobo Talavera, 24, of Michoacán, Mexico; Hector Orozco, 34, of Jalisco, Mexico; and Alfredo Sanchez, 30, from Mexico, were identified as three of the eight victims.
CHP officials reported Robert Jerry Kovar, 78, of Auberry, was driving his Chevrolet pickup truck when for unknown reasons he crossed over into opposing traffic. The black pickup truck crashed into a GMC van. Multiple people were ejected from the van and some people trapped in vehicles.
The van was carrying eight men who live in the Fresno/Kerman area who were traveling to work, according to a report by KTLA 5 News. The men were farmworkers headed to Lion Farms in the Firebaugh area.
Paramedics from CAL Fire responded to help those injured in the crash, but the pickup truck driver and seven of the eight men in the van died. Some of the men in the van were not wearing seatbelts, officials said. Benito Perez Mundo, who was also riding in the van, survived and was hospitalized with major injuries.
Meanwhile, two tow trucks came to remove vehicles from the roadway and authorities closed down Road 22 on the west side and Road 23 on the east side.
Investigators are working to determine liability for the Avenue 7 crash in La Vina.
The family of Juvenal Talavera has a Gofundme page to cover his funeral costs.
Also, there is a Gofundme for funeral costs for Alfredo Morales 28 and Victor Hernandez 30.
Johnson Attorneys Group does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Furthermore, Johnson Attorneys Group hopes this news information is timely and helpful. Additionally, if you would like to contribute any information, add a GoFundMe page or have legal questions, please call 1-(855) 703-4186 as soon as possible. Our personal injury law firm is a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
Source: CHP Incident: R0036
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