Seven children and female driver are killed by 28-year-old Dodge driver who swerved into wrong lane and hit their car head-on in California horror crash
Seven children and two adult drivers were killed in a head-on collision in Central California on New Year's Day, authorities said.
The children, who were between six and 15 years old, were members of two related families traveling in a 2007 Ford that collided around 8 p.m. Friday with a Dodge vehicle on State Route 33 between Avenal and Coalinga, the Fresno County Coroner's office and the California Highway Patrol said.
Evidence from the scene indicated that the Dodge being driven by a 28-year-old man was traveling southbound on the highway when it veered onto the dirt shoulder for an unknown reason, the CHP said.
Seven children and two adult drivers were killed in a head-on collision in Central California on New Year's Day, authorities said. A picture shows the fiery crash scene in Fresno
The driver then overcorrected and swerved into the southbound lane, where it struck the Ford driven by a woman.
The Ford burst into flames on the dirt shoulder, while the Dodge came to a stop straddling both lanes of the highway, the CHP said.
All eight people inside the Ford were killed, including the seven children.
The driver of the Dodge was identified as Daniel Luna of Avenal. He died on impact.
The coroner's office was working on identifying the victims in the Ford.
CHP Central Division Cpt. Kevin Clays told ABC 30: 'When the fire was extinguished, tragically, it was discovered there were eight occupants, seven of which appeared to be juveniles inside the Ford, all of which sustained fatal injuries.'
Officers also suggested that not all of the children inside were wearing seatbelts and there weren't enough to cover all the occupants in the car.
Law enforcement is trying to determine if alcohol or drugs played a factor in the crash.
The children, who were between six and 15 years old, were members of two related families traveling in a 2007 Ford that collided around 8 p.m. Friday with a Dodge vehicle on State Route 33 between Avenal and Coalinga, the Fresno County Coroner's office and the California Highway Patrol said
The aftermath of the crash site shows debris strewn next to the road