.jpeg "A driver was killed when he struck a utility pole at Tulare and Willow avenues on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.")
A driver was killed when he struck a utility pole at Tulare and Willow avenues on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.
NICK FENLEY
nfenley@fresnobee.com
A driver was killed after the vehicle he was in crashed into a utility pole Friday afternoon in Fresno.
The crash happened at about 4:30 p.m. at Willow and Tulare avenues, where the vehicle became engulfed in flames.
Officers arrived and found a full-size sedan on fire. Witnesses told police the driver was outside the vehicle and dead.
The vehicle was traveling southbound on Willow Avenue at a high rate of speed when the driver swerved to avoid traffic and struck the pole, witnesses told police.
Live wires fell to the ground, Fresno police Lt. Justin Hoagland said. He said the driver contacted a live wire after exiting the vehicle, igniting a fire.
Hazmat firefighters responded and extinguished the flames.
The crash also knocked out power to at least 2,500 PG&E customers.
A driver died when his vehicle crashed into a power pole that ended up catching on fire in Fresno on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. NICK FENLEY nfenley@fresnobee.com
This story was originally published August 28, 2026 at 6:29 PM.
The Fresno Bee
Anthony Galaviz writes about breaking news/sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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