7 Kids, 2 Adults Dead in Head-On Collision That Set 2 Vehicles on Fire

By Mary Anne R. (staff@latinpost.com) First Posted: Jan 03, 2021 11:25 PM EST

A California Highway Patrol cruiser waits to lead motorist on as construction workers remove barricades on the southbound Interstate 405 freeway before it re-opened ahead of schedule following a 10-mile shutdown of the freeway for bridge work on July 17, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles city officials advised residents to stay home or stay away from the area over the weekend fearing massive traffic jams of what has become known as "Carmageddon." which never materialized. (Photo : Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

A Head-on crash in Central California took away the lives of seven children and two adults on New Year's Day.

Investigators are asking for the public's help to determine what caused the head-on crash that killed the victims, according to an NBC News report.

The California Highway Patrol says everyone who reported the incident that took place on rural State Route 33 arrived at the scene after the crash.

The CHP aims to talk to witnesses who saw what happened before the SUV and the truck collided between Avenal and Coalinga.

Head-on crash resulting in fire

The children, who died due to the crash, were between six and 15 years old.

They were members of two related families traveling in a Ford F-150 truck that was struck by around 8 p.m. by a Dodge Journey SUV. This was according to the Fresno County Coroner's office and the CHP.

Evidence found from the scene implied that the Dodge was being driven by 28-year-old man and was traveling southbound on the highway when it skidded onto the dirt shoulder for an unknown reason based on police reports, as reported by The Guardian.

The driver then overcorrected and swerve into the oncoming lane where it struck the Ford, which was driven by a woman. Police said that the Ford burst into flames on the shoulder.

Meanwhile, the Dodge came to a stop, which blocked both lanes of the highway. This resulted in to all eight people getting killed inside the Ford.

Highway patrol Captain Kevin Clays said that the pickup only has six seatbelts. Clay added that the officers who responded to the collision had been offered counseling. He said that it is tragic for the community and for the officers that respond to these incidents.

Daniel Luna was reported to the driver of the Dodge. It was unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor to the incident. Luna's toxicology results are still pending, according to an ABC News report.

Investigators said that they will try to determine how fast both vehicles were going at the time of the crash.

Officials said that weather or other road conditions did not appear to be a factor.

"Highway 33 is fairly straight in this location and not a lot of collisions occur at the same location where this collision occurred. It's well maintained," Clays was quoted on an ABC News report. Clays said that they are working with the Fresno County Coroner's Office to identify the occupants.

Meanwhile, a head-on collision in Rincon on Dec. 29 were reported. They were put out by CAL FIRE San Diego firefighters, according to a Firehouse report. It happened around 6:05 p.m. near the roundabout between SR-76 and Valley Center Road.

Details surrounding the crash were not immediately released to public. CAL FIRE San Diego Capt. Thomas Shoots said that the collision involved a van and a sedan.

Shoots said that one occupant in each vehicle was trapped until CAL FIRE crews could free them. Medics took both to hospitals in ambulances.

Tags Head-on, Crash, California