Jovan Cortez DUI crash Fresno County
DUI Driver Jovan Cortez, 22, Kills Father and Son in Fresno County Crash
FRESNO COUNTY, CA (May 2, 2021) – Authorities detained Jovan Cortez after a fatal DUI crash at Marks and North avenues in Fresno County.
The California Highway Patrol determined that the 22-year-old man was under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred on Saturday night.
The incident happened on May 1 when Jovan Adam Cortez was driving a Dodge pickup north on Marks Avenue in Fresno County. He then ran a red light at the intersection with West North Avenue.
In the process, the Dodge slammed into a Cadillac Escalade carrying a family of six from Fresno. The male driver of the Cadillac and a child passenger ended up ejected from their car upon impact.
Both the father and his son died as a result of the collision. The coroner’s office identified them as 45-year-old Jose Castillo and his 7-year-old son.
Jose Castillo, 45; and Boy, 7, Victims in Fatal Collision
Medical personnel rushed another juvenile riding the Escalade to the Community Regional Medical Center with major injuries. The other three passengers of the SUV sustained minor injuries.
CHP described them as a 30-year-old woman, another 7-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl. Meanwhile, the pickup truck caught fire following the crash.
Officials took Jovan Cortez to the hospital for treatment of major injuries. His 10-month-old daughter in the car seat did not sustain any wound following the wreck.
The Fresno Bee and Your Central Valley reported the collision at around 8 p.m. Authorities soon arrested and charged Cortez with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
They booked him into the Fresno County Jail on DUI causing bodily injury and death and child endangerment. The fatal DUI crash is still under investigation.
“Johnson Attorneys Group does not represent any of the parties mentioned above; nor is it our intent to represent any of the parties. If you would like to contribute to this story, please contact us.”
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