Fiery Crash Causes 3 Deaths in Fresno; Several Cars Involved | 03/21/21

At least seven vehicles were involved in the deadly incident that occurred on Saturday night, March 20, in the area of Highway 41 at McKinley Avenue, in which five vehicles were incinerated and three people were killed.

The culprit was identified as ‘‘Francisco Portillo’’ and was in the vehicle with his girlfriend, the vehicle was a black Chevy Camaro, in which he left State Route 41.

According to investigators, the driver of the Camaro was observed by a Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy who was driving recklessly on the highway around 11:00 pm.

The county deputy tried to stop him, but Portillo sped away, at about 100 miles per hour (mph), when the sheriff decided to call off the chase due to the dangerousness of such high speeds.

After running a red light near downtown Fresno, when the vehicle crossed the intersection of Cedar and McKinley avenues, the accident occurred where the collision with several vehicles caused a chain reaction crash.

The three people who died at the scene of the accident have not been identified, while Portillo and his girlfriend are hospitalized, seriously injured, and in critical condition, but stable.

Fresno Police Lt. Israel Reyes said the 20-year-old Chevy Camaro driver could face charges of vehicular manslaughter.