Man killed in fiery multi-car crash ID’d by Fresno coroner. Two others had major injuries
The man killed in a fiery crash that seriously injured two others near Kerman was identified Monday by the Fresno County Coroner’s Office.
The crash caused Ruben Rodriguez, 47, of Antioch to be ejected from a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu about 8:30 p.m. Sunday near Highway 180 and Sonoma Avenue, authorities said.
He was headed west on 180 and for an unknown reason veered to the left and sideswiped a 2003 Ford Mustang driven by a 40-year-old Mendota man, the California Highway Patrol said.
The Chevy continued head-on into a 2007 Toyota Camry driven by a 44-year-old Bakersfield woman, CHP said.
Rodriguez was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the car into the roadway as the Chevy was engulfed in flames, CHP said.
The CHP helicopter took Rodriguez to Community Regional Medical Center, where he later died.
The drivers in the other cars were taken to the hospital with major injuries but they were expected to survive, CHP said.
Officers said Monday it’s unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision.
