Madera County, CA – On the morning of Wednesday, December 31, 2025, a collision between a big rig and an SUV resulted in the deaths of one man and one woman and injuries to three other people, according to The Fresno Bee, with additional reporting from CHP Fatal.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the crash occurred just before 11:00 AM at the intersection of Avenue 13 and Road 23 in rural Madera County. Officers stated that a semi-truck hauling two trailers was traveling northbound on Road 23 as a Honda CR-V carrying five occupants traveled westbound on Avenue 13, which is controlled by a stop sign.
Authorities said the Honda CR-V entered the intersection and collided with the right side of the trailers. Following the impact, the SUV veered to the northwest corner of the intersection, overturned, and ejected four of its occupants.
CHP officials reported that the five occupants of the Honda CR-V appeared to be in their late 20s to mid-30s. One male and one female were pronounced dead at the scene, while the three surviving occupants were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries was not released.
The driver of the semi-truck was not injured. CHP noted that four of the five occupants in the SUV were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
Traffic logs indicate that emergency medical services, fire personnel, and county road crews responded, and towing services were called for both the big rig and the damaged SUV. The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
Wrongful Death Claims & Comparative Negligence
Determining fault in a collision can involve multiple factors, and under California’s Comparative Negligence rule, several parties can share partial responsibility.
Should someone else be found even partly responsible for the death, the family may be able to file a Wrongful Death claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. This can provide compensation to help cover medical bills, funeral expenses, and the loss of income to support the family of the deceased.
Ongoing Investigations
Victims of traffic accidents and their families should be aware that authorities may fail to note or even misinterpret critical evidence at a crash site. One of the services that a Personal Injury Attorney can provide is to pursue follow-up investigations, which can reveal additional evidence to correct any errors made by previous investigators.
Madera Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, contact a Madera Wrongful Death Lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
