Five dead in two-car collision northwest of Fresno

Five people were killed Saturday morning a car crash northwest of Fresno, according to information released Monday by the California Highway Patrol.

Saturday at approximately 11:10 AM, the Merced Communication Center (MCC) received a call of a traffic collision at the intersection of Avenue 9 and Road 30 in Madera County. Officers from the CHP Madera Area office responded to the scene and investigated the collision.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the driver of a Dodge sedan was traveling westbound on Avenue 9 east of Road 30 at a high rate of speed.

William Siegel, 49 from Lemoore, was driving a Chevrolet pickup southbound on Road 30 north of Avenue 9 at an unknown speed.

For unknown reasons, The driver of the Dodge failed to stop for the posted stop sign controlling westbound traffic at Road 30 and entered the intersection without stopping.

Siegel did not have time to react to the Dodge failing to stop for the stop sign, as the right front of the Dodge collided with the left side of the Chevrolet.

The Dodge continued out of control across the southwest corner of the intersection where it collided with several grape vines. The force of the collision caused the Chevrolet to overturn and travel across the southwest corner of the intersection where it also collided with several grape vines.

The Dodge subsequently caught on fire and both occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene.

All three occupants of the Chevrolet — Siegel, Taylor Hanning (32 , from Laton) and Joe Avila (75, from Hanford) were also pronounced deceased at the scene of the traffic collision.

Safety equipment could not be confirmed on the driver and passenger of the Dodge due to the fire, who are still unknown at this time.

It is unknown at this time whether drugs and/ or alcohol were a factor in this collision.

Any further questions can be forwarded to the Madera CHP Office Public Affairs Officer at (559) 675-1025.