5 Fwy Rollover Crash Kills Man, Injures 8 Santa Ana Residents

An SUV rollover crash on the 5 freeway left one man dead and at least eight other individuals injured in Fresno County on Saturday. All of the people involved in the single-vehicle crash are Santa Ana residents according to a CHP incident report.

The man killed in the collision, is 63-year-old Piedad Orozco. He was a passenger in the SUV, a 2003 Ford Expedition built to accommodate eight passengers. The vehicle was traveling between 80 and 85 miles per hour in the city of Kingsburg on Saturday before one of its wheels blew out causing it to get out of control.

At approximately 3:50 p.m. the right rear tire exploded, according to a California Highway Patrol officer. When that happened, the large vehicle swerved and overturned several times. After rolling a few times, it finally came to a stop on its wheels. CHP found the damaged vehicle by the center median near Kamm Avenue surrounded by a carpet of debris and various liquids.

When authorities arrived to the scene they checked all of the passengers and pronounced the 63-year-old dead. He had sat in the furthest left rear seat and was not wearing a seatbelt.

Adan Acosta, a 43-year-old and driver of the vehicle was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno with major life-threatening injuries.

Rosa Villicana, a 42 year-old-woman, Yesenia Villicana, a 21-year-old woman and three minors girls, ages 8, 13 and 17, were transported to Adventist Health in Hanford with moderate injuries.

Paramedics took Nevia Villicana, a 19-year-old woman and Bianca Maynor another 21-year-old woman to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno with minor injuries.

When driving a larger vehicle with many passengers, especially on a long trip, it is important to make sure the vehicle is properly maintained. Owners can refer to the manual that comes with the vehicle to get a better understating on how it should be operated. Things to look for are properly functioning lights, steering and brakes. It’s also important to check that all fluid levels are where they should be and are changed intermittently. Last but not least tires, they should be inflated to the appropriate psi. If your vehicle did not come with an owner’s manual, there is usually a reference plaque along the frame of the driver’s side door with the correct psi levels.

Automobile accidents can happen without a warning. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one because of an auto wreck, contact our Fresno car accident lawyer today.