Man dies in collision north of city

A traffic collision on Avenue 21 just west of Road 26 killed a Madera man about 5 a.m. Saturday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.

39-year-old Anthony Garcia was driving eastbound on Avenue 21 in the rural area when for unknown reasons, he let the 1995 Chevy Silverado pickup he was driving cross the centerline into the westbound lane and directly into the path of a 2014 Peterbilt semi truck moving at roadway speed.

Both vehicles came to a stop within the traffic lanes blocking Avenue 21. Garcia sustained major injuries to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Motorists in the area described coming upon the wreckage in the dark as grisly and said they weren’t even initially sure what they were looking at.

The 63-year-old driver of the semi truck, also from Madera, was not injured.

Traffic was blocked on the busy east-west roadway for several hours as emergency crews worked to investigate the fatal collision and clear the scene. Conditions at the time were clear, dry and dark.

The investigation into the collision is ongoing, with factors of fatigue and distracted driving under review.

Toxicology reports are pending.