Madera County, CA — On the evening of Sunday, October 4, 2026, a suspected DUI collision resulted in one person losing their life and another being hospitalized, according to KSEE/KGPE, with additional reporting from CHP Fatal.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place at around 6:03 PM at the intersection of Avenue 15 and Road 28 1/2 in a rural area of East Madera County.
Accident logs indicate that a white Nissan Altima and a white Mercedes van collided at a high rate of speed. The Nissan reportedly then struck a brick wall and iron fence, while the Mercedes rolled onto its side.
One of the drivers involved was pronounced dead at the scene, and that driver’s passenger, identified as Jamie Hernandez in CHP logs, was transported to a nearby children’s hospital. The other driver involved was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Neither the name of the driver who lost their life nor the driver arrested under suspicion of DUI has been released as of the time of reporting. CHP requests that any witnesses who may have information regarding this fatal accident come forward. This is an ongoing investigation.
Madera County DUI Accidents and Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Claims
California law considers suspects to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If the driver arrested in this fatal accident is convicted, however, they may be considered to have committed “negligence per se,” which means that by violating traffic safety laws, they immediately meet the legal definition of having been negligent in an accident, and therefore liable for any damages that result. However, a driver need not have broken any laws for the surviving family of the victims to pursue a wrongful death or personal injury claim.
While no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one, the costs of their passing should be the responsibility of those responsible for their death. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation for damages such as funeral costs and the loss of support for any dependents of the deceased.
If the victim who was injured in this crash, named as Jamie Hernandez in CHP logs, is a minor, it will be the responsibility of a parent or guardian to pursue a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim can recover medical costs, including long-term physical rehabilitation and the purchase of specialized mobility devices, as well as pain and suffering and other damages related to the accident.
Madera County Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you love has been harmed in an accident similar to this one, at Avenue 15 and Road 28 1/2 in Madera County, consider reaching out to a California wrongful death and personal injury lawyer with any questions and to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation.
