On January 16, 2018, at approximately 1002 hours, the Fresno Communication Center (FCC) received a call of a traffic collision on State Route 198 west of Interstate 5. Officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Coalinga Area Office responded to the scene and investigated the collision.
During the course of the investigation, it was determined a female driver was driving a 2004 Chevrolet, leaving the gas station just west of Interstate 5 on State Route 198. The Chevrolet was facing south, stopped at a posted stop sign waiting to enter State Route 198 and travel east. Mr. Keeling was driving a 2014 Peterbuilt westbound on State Route 198, just west of Interstate 5, at approximately 40 miles per hour, approaching the intersection where the Chevrolet was stopped. Without yielding to the Peterbuilt, the Chevrolet accelerated onto State Route 198 and directly into the path of the Peterbuilt. The front of the Peterbuilt collided into the left side of the Chevrolet as the Chevrolet was traveling in a southernly direction through the westbound State Route 198 traffic lanes. The driver of the Chevrolet sustained major injuries as a result of this collision. The passenger of the Chevrolet sustained fatal injuries as a result of this collision.
Investigators are in the process of confirming the driver of the Chevrolet’s identity. This collision is still under investigation. Drugs and/or alcohol do not appear to be a factor in this collision.