Published: August 30, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Coalinga, CA) – A 58-year-old man from Coalinga died Thursday afternoon after his pickup crashed into the back of a parked truck along Highway 198 in Fresno County, the California Highway Patrol reported.
According to the CHP, the collision took place around 3:30 p.m. on State Route 198, at a point west of Parsons Road and west of Coalinga. A preliminary review by investigators indicated the man had been driving a white 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 eastbound on SR-198, west of Parsons Road, at roughly 70 to 75 mph.
Witnesses reported to investigators that the Dodge Ram was moving to pass two vehicles in the westbound lane when its driver lost control. The CHP said the pickup drifted onto the dirt shoulder, then crossed back over both the westbound and eastbound lanes before continuing toward the south dirt shoulder, where it struck the rear of a parked Ford F450. That truck was occupied by a 50-year-old driver from Stockton, according to the CHP.
The agency said the two vehicles stayed connected after impact and stopped along the right shoulder of eastbound SR-198. The pickup's driver sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to Coalinga Regional Medical Center, where he later died, the CHP reported. The other driver was taken to the same facility with minor injuries that were not life-threatening. Investigators believe alcohol and/or drugs may have been a contributing factor, and the CHP Coalinga Area is continuing to investigate.
Know Your Rights After a Crash
After a serious crash, California law gives injured people and families limited time to act. Evidence like vehicle data, camera footage, and witness memories fades quickly. A free, no-obligation case review can help you understand your options. Call or text (888) 800-6731, or start a free case review online. Asistencia en español disponible.
Analysis of the Highway 198 Collision
When state investigators reconstruct a fatal highway crash like this one, they typically look at speed, the position of each vehicle, physical evidence at the scene, and whether any driver was impaired. Under California's Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350, a motorist may not drive faster than is reasonable and prudent given road, traffic, and visibility conditions. Whether a reported speed of 70 to 75 mph was safe for the specific stretch of SR-198 is the kind of question an investigation may examine, though speed alone does not establish civil liability.
Civil claims arising from a crash are governed by ordinary negligence principles. Civil Code section 1714(a) provides that a person is responsible for injury caused by a lack of ordinary care. If a formal review were to find that a traffic law was violated and that the violation was a proximate cause of the harm the law is meant to prevent, Evidence Code section 669 allows a presumption of negligence to arise. The CHP has stated that impairment may have been a contributing factor; any such finding would be significant, but it remains preliminary and unproven.
Because someone died in this crash, California's wrongful death and survival statutes could become relevant to the family. Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 identifies who may bring a wrongful death action, generally a surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children, while section 377.30 addresses survival claims that pass to a decedent's successor in interest. Where more than one party may bear some degree of fault, Civil Code section 1431.2 governs how non-economic damages are allocated according to each party's share of responsibility, and Civil Code section 3333 sets the general measure of compensable tort damages.
What Families and Survivors Can Do
After a fatal or injury crash, it helps to obtain a copy of the CHP collision report once it is finalized, keep records of medical treatment, and preserve any photographs or witness information while memories are fresh. California law imposes short deadlines: an injury or fatal crash generally must be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours under Vehicle Code section 20008 and to the DMV within 10 days under Vehicle Code section 16000, and most personal injury claims must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Families weighing their options should not wait to understand their rights. If you have questions about a loss or injury from this collision, Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A California truck accident lawyer at Yaghmai Law Firm can explain your options and deal with the insurance companies for you. Call or text (888) 800-6731 or request a free case review.
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. GNEWS_CA_COLLISION – Man killed after losing control, crashing into parked truck on Hwy. 198 near Coalinga: https://kmph.com/news/local/man-killed-after-losing-control-crashing-into-parked-truck-on-hwy-198-near-coalinga