A 22-year-old driver died early Tuesday after authorities say he might have fallen asleep on a Fresno highway.
The California Highway Patrol determined that the crash happened around 12:30 a.m. on southbound Highway 41, just north of the transition to Highway 99 when the driver of a Toyota Camry allowed the car to veer off the roadway. The Camry drifted onto the right shoulder and traveled in a southwesterly direction up an embankment before striking a concrete pillar, CHP said.
The driver had critical injuries at the time, but the vehicle remained out of sight of passing vehicles until about six hours after the crash, CHP said.
Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and pronounced the man dead. The driver was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was identified as Alejandro Orozco Jr., of Parlier.
“Fatigued driving is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” CHP Captain Ian Holguin said. “It is crucial to take breaks, get adequate rest before embarking on long trips, and avoid driving if you are feeling drowsy.”