Pedro Garcia Velarde Obituary, Death; – The individual who lost his life in a collision that resulted in two teenagers being hospitalized last week in Fresno County has been named. The Fresno County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased as 44-year-old Pedro Garcia Velarde, a resident of Kerman.
The California Highway Patrol arrived at the intersection of Highway 180 and Grantland Avenue in Fresno County in response to a fatal traffic accident shortly before 6:20 p.m. on November 22. According to CHP, Velarde was operating a Kia Optima eastbound on Highway 180, accompanied by two 14-year-old passengers. Concurrently, a pickup truck driven by 56-year-old Santiago Lopez Lucas of Fresno was traveling westbound on the same highway.
Authorities report that, for reasons yet to be determined, Lopez veered across the center line and struck the Kia. CHP officials stated that Velarde was pronounced dead at the scene before their arrival. The two 14-year-old passengers were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
Additionally, officers noted that Lucas sustained minor injuries and was taken into custody on charges of DUI, DUI resulting in death, and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. The sheriff’s office has confirmed that Lucas has since posted bail and was released from jail on Sunday, with his bail set at $97,000.
