Marcos Hernandez Perez and Leslany Santoyo die in fatal Madera County, California multi-vehicle crash
Fatal Madera County, California multi-vehicle crash death of Marcos Hernandez Perez and Leslany Santoyo – Obituary
Two people, Marcos Hernandez Perez, 26, of Madera, and Leslany Santoyo, 23, of Merced, lost their lives following a three-vehicle collision Saturday near the intersection of Highways 41 and 145, authorities confirmed.
Investigators said Perez was driving a Dodge Challenger westbound on Highway 145 with Santoyo as his passenger when he lost control of the vehicle. After overcorrecting, the car crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a Honda CR-V driven by a 33-year-old man.
Moments after the initial impact, a Honda Accord traveling in the same westbound direction crashed into the CR-V. The Accord’s driver, a 25-year-old man, briefly stopped alongside his passenger, a 23-year-old man. However, one of them fled the scene, leaving the other behind.
Perez and Santoyo, both of whom were wearing seatbelts, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Honda CR-V sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Authorities initially arrested the individual who fled, suspecting him of hit-and-run and driving under the influence. However, further investigation by the California Highway Patrol later determined that the person who ran from the scene had actually been the passenger. The individual who remained at the crash site was then identified as the driver and was subsequently taken into custody on the same charges.
The incident remains under active investigation as officials continue to piece together the events leading up to the crash.