Fresno County, CA – On the afternoon of Friday, May 1, 2026, a single-vehicle collision resulted in the death of a 78-year-old woman near Pine Flat Lake, according to ABC30, with additional reporting from CHP Fatal.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place on Trimmer Springs Road west of Maxon Road.
Authorities said the woman had failed to arrive at a planned meeting at Kirch Flat on Thursday evening, prompting a welfare check call to CHP at approximately 5:30 PM on Friday.
Officers, Fresno County Sheriff's deputies, and aerial units from both agencies responded to the Kirch Flat area but were unable to locate the woman or her vehicle. A Fresno County Sheriff's deputy sergeant located the woman and her tan Lexus SUV along Trimmer Springs Road at approximately 8:40 AM on Saturday.
Investigators determined that the Lexus had been traveling westbound on Trimmer Springs Road when, for reasons still under investigation, it crossed lanes and went down a steep embankment. The vehicle appeared to have overturned multiple times, ejecting the woman from the car.
The coroner was notified and responded to the scene. Fire department personnel and a rotator tow truck with a flatbed were required to access and recover the vehicle from approximately 100 yards down the embankment, with a hard closure of at least one to two hours implemented while crews worked the scene.
Investigators have not determined whether drugs or alcohol were contributing factors in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
Single-Vehicle Collisions
In some cases, investigations may reveal that even in a single-vehicle accident, nearby drivers or unsafe road features share some responsibility. California’s comparative negligence rule means that, even if those injured in accidents are found partially at fault, they may still be eligible to receive partial compensation for damages through a wrongful death claim.
For more information on wrongful death claims, visit MaisonLaw.com.