Published: August 4, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Hanford, CA) – One man died and several other people were taken to hospitals after a collision involving three vehicles on Highway 198 near Hanford on Sunday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP reported that officers were called to the crash shortly after 3 p.m., on Highway 198 just east of 7th Avenue in Kings County. Investigators said a man was driving a Toyota Tacoma with three passengers westbound on the highway when the pickup crossed over a paved center divider and moved into the eastbound lanes.
According to the CHP, the Tacoma struck a Honda Civic, and the force of that impact sent the Civic into a Toyota Corolla that was carrying two people traveling east. The Corolla's driver then lost control, and the vehicle overturned and rolled into a field on the south side of the highway.
The three passengers from the Tacoma were transported to Adventist Medical Center in Hanford, while the two occupants of the Corolla were taken to Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia, the CHP said. The driver of the Civic died from his injuries in an ambulance en route to Kaweah Delta. Authorities said alcohol and drugs are not believed to have been factors in the collision.
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 a fatal multi-vehicle crash is investigated in California, one of the central questions is whether any driver failed to use ordinary care. Under Civil Code section 1714(a), a person is responsible for injuries caused to another by a lack of reasonable care, subject to reductions for any fault of the injured party. Because the reported sequence here began with a vehicle crossing a center divider into oncoming lanes, investigators will likely examine what led a vehicle to leave its proper lane and whether that movement was avoidable.
California's Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350, requires drivers to travel no faster than is reasonable and prudent for the conditions of the road. If evidence were to show that speed or another traffic violation contributed to the loss of control described by the CHP, that could become relevant to a civil claim. Under Evidence Code section 669, a driver who violates a safety statute may be presumed negligent when that violation proximately causes the kind of harm the statute was meant to prevent and the injured person is within the class it protects. Whether that presumption applies to anyone here would depend entirely on facts developed through the CHP's investigation.
Because one person died, California's wrongful-death and survival statutes may also come into play. Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 identifies who may bring a wrongful-death action, generally a surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, or certain other heirs, and section 377.30 governs survival claims that pass to a decedent's successor in interest. The measure of any recoverable damages is set by Civil Code section 3333, which allows compensation for all detriment proximately caused, and Civil Code section 1431.2 directs that non-economic damages be allocated among responsible parties in proportion to their share of fault.
What Survivors and Families Can Do
After a serious crash, it helps to obtain a copy of the CHP collision report, keep records of all medical treatment, and preserve any evidence such as photographs, vehicle information, and witness contacts. Drivers involved in an injury or fatal crash generally must file a written report with law enforcement within 24 hours under Vehicle Code section 20008 and notify the DMV within 10 days under Vehicle Code section 16000, while personal-injury claims are ordinarily subject to the two-year deadline in Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Families weighing their options can review the circumstances with an attorney who can explain how these deadlines and rules may apply. Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A California car 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_CRASH – 1 person killed, multiple hospitalized following 3-vehicle crash near Hanford, CHP says: https://abc30.com/post/1-person-killed-multiple-hospitalized-following-3-vehicle-crash-hanford-chp-says/19620403/
