Sanger man arrested after fatal 4-vehicle crash in Fresno

FRESNO — Four cars were involved on Wednesday in a car crash involving suspected alcohol that left three people dead and five injured.

At about 9:25 p.m., suspect Willie Rivera Jr., 23, driving alone in a 1995 Silverado, was reportedly headed against traffic in a westbound direction on the eastbound side of Jensen Avenue

Three cars — a 1998 Honda Civic HB, a 1990 Ford F150 and a 2000 Daewoo — approached eastbound, the first two in the same lane as Rivera and the third in the next lane.

Shinder Randhawa, driving the Ford F150, reportedly saw the oncoming vehicle and turned sharply to the left in an attempt to avoid a collision.

Rivera allegedly hit the front and side of the truck, then crashed head-on into the Honda Civic. The collision left three unnamed passengers dead and driver Sergio Barrera Jr., 21, with major injuries.

The fatalities include a 14-year-female, a 21-year-old female and a 20-year-old male.

Sanger residents Randhawa, 51, and his passenger Gagandip Randhawa, 26, both received minor injuries.

The third car traveling toward Rivera was also involved in the crash, but police were unable to tell with which car the Daewoo collided due to the complex nature of the accident.

The driver, Maria R. G. Tostado, 26, sustained minor injuries.

All injured parties received treatment at the Community Regional Medical Center, which houses the only Level 1 trauma center in the Central Valley.

Rivera, who sustained minor injuries, was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter.

--Contact The Recorder at 784-5000, Ext. 1043.