Caruthers, CA — March 7, 2025, Daniel Avila was killed in a truck accident on Kamm Avenue near Brawley Avenue.

Authorities said a Ford pickup was headed west when it collided with an eastbound semi-truck.

Ford driver Daniel Avila, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. The truck driver was not injured.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Fresno County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Head-on collisions between semi-trucks and passenger vehicles raise serious concerns about how and why both vehicles ended up in the same space at the same time. In this case, reports indicate that a Ford pickup and an eastbound semi-truck collided on Kamm Avenue, resulting in the death of the pickup driver. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver error, road conditions or another contributing factor.

One of the first questions investigators need to answer is which vehicle crossed the center line and why. Reviewing black box data, dashcam footage and any available witness statements will be critical in understanding the sequence of events.

Another key factor is the road itself. Many rural highways, like Kamm Avenue, have only one lane in each direction, leaving little room for error. Were there curves, hills or limited visibility that may have prevented the drivers from seeing each other in time? If road design played a role, that should be examined closely.

Speed is also a critical issue. Large trucks take much longer to stop than passenger vehicles, and if the truck was traveling too fast for conditions, that could have affected its ability to avoid a crash. Investigators should review speed data from the truck’s black box to determine whether the driver had enough time to react.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on who hit whom without investigating why the vehicles ended up in a head-on collision — whether due to driver behavior, road conditions or mechanical failure — they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong.