California Highway Patrol
GRETCHEN WENNER/THE STAR
USA TODAY Network, Reuters
Thursday brought a mix of tragedy, public health concerns and local business news across the central valley. From a deadly Madera County crash that claimed a father and his teenage son to a rabies-positive bat found at Yosemite and shifting fortunes for a Fresno burger spot.
Water pours off of Bridalveil Fall as cars hunt for open parking stalls in the lot during a busy day at Yosemite National Park on Thursday, May 21, 2026. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com Here are the top stories of the dayFather and his 13-year-old son among 4 killed in crash in Madera County, CHP says — Four people in a Honda CRV died Wednesday night when a GMC Sierra ran a stop sign and struck their vehicle at Road 9 and Avenue 21 in Madera County, the California Highway Patrol said. The Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as 42-year-old Pedro Chavez Garcia, his 13-year-old son Pedro Chavez, 36-year-old Gerardo Ramirez Aguilar and 52-year-old Cayetano Beyza-Mendoza. The GMC’s occupants had minor injuries, and CHP spokesperson Marcos Cisneros said it is unknown whether drugs or alcohol were a factor.Bat found at Yosemite campground tests positive for deadly disease. What to know — A big brown bat discovered dead outside the Curry Village Showerhouse in May has tested positive for rabies, Yosemite National Park announced Wednesday. Officials said no known human contact with the bat has been reported but urged anyone who had direct contact with a bat in the Curry Village area on or around May 18 to call the California Department of Health and a healthcare provider. The last documented case of a rabies-positive bat at the park was in July 2025.Yard Burger settles into new, and only, Blackstone Avenue location in Fresno — Owner Arut Mkhitaryan has closed the original Yard Burger at 4434 W. Shaw Ave. and consolidated operations at 6031 N. Blackstone Ave. in Fresno, just months after both locations opened. Mkhitaryan said customers from the Shaw location followed him to Blackstone, which offers outdoor seating and a menu that includes brisket burgers, chicken burgers and an Oklahoma Onion Smash Burger. He plans a minimum of three Fresno locations and one in Clovis, while a new London Fish & Chips has moved into the former Shaw Avenue space.
Original stories by Anthony Galaviz, Gagandeep Singh and Amber Hair
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content. Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.
Related Stories from Fresno Bee