MADERA COUNTY–Shortly after 8:00am this morning, Thursday, September 15, 2022, a major motor vehicle accident occurred on Highway 41 near Avenue 15. All lanes of the highway were closed for several hours, wreaking havoc on the morning commute.
At approximately 8:16am, California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officers from the Madera Division, were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident involving multiple vehicles with injuries being reported. Upon arrival, officers discovered 3 vehicles involved and a deceased woman.
Officers say that two vehicles described as a Toyota Corolla and a RAM pick-up truck were traveling northbound and they believe at one point the Corolla hit the pick-up sending it to the southbound lane and crashing head-on with a BMW.
CHP authorities say, the driver of the Corolla died at the scene and the BMW driver sustained major injuries and was transported via air ambulance to a local hospital. The pick-up driver was not injured.
Highway 41 was closed completely for over 3 hours during the busy morning commute hours as motorists scrambled to find alternative routes around the closure.
The cause of the crash is still being investigated, but CHP officers say that alcohol appears not to be a factor.
