Madera County, CA – On the evening of Wednesday, September 2, 2026, a two-vehicle collision resulted in the deaths of four people in a Honda CR-V, according to KSEE/KGPE.
Those who lost their lives, all residents of Merced County, have been identified as:
- Pedro Chavez, 13
- Gerardo Ramirez Aguilar, 36
- Pedro Chavez Garcia, 42
- Cayetano Beyza-Mendoza, 52
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 8:40 PM at the intersection of Road 9 and Avenue 21.
Authorities said a 2015 GMC Sierra, carrying two people, was traveling eastbound on Avenue 21 toward the intersection while a 2022 Honda CR-V, carrying five people, was traveling northbound on Road 9. At this intersection, eastbound and westbound traffic on Avenue 21 is controlled by stop signs, while traffic on Road 9 is not.
As the Honda entered the intersection, the GMC reportedly failed to stop at the posted stop sign and entered directly into its path. As a result of the collision, four of the five occupants of the Honda died, including Chavez, a student at Weaver Middle School.
The condition of the others involved in the crash, including the fifth occupant of the Honda and the two occupants of the GMC, had not been immediately released. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office formally identified the four victims.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Stop Sign Laws
California law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a Stop sign (California Vehicle Code 22450). Drivers may only enter the intersection when it appears safe for all parties to do so (California Vehicle Code 21802).
Madera County Car Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
California law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at posted stop signs and yield the right of way to cross traffic before proceeding through an intersection. When a driver fails to stop and causes a fatal collision, that driver may be considered to have committed negligence per se, increasing their share of liability for the resulting deaths.
Regardless of the findings, the families of Chavez, Ramirez Aguilar, Chavez Garcia, and Beyza-Mendoza may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim can provide the families with compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of consortium, and other damages related to the fatal accident.
Madera County Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, at Road 9 and Avenue 21, contact a California wrongful death lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
