State Route 65 near East Marinette Avenue north of Exeter, where the fatal crash occurred. Source: Google Maps.
KEY DETAILS
DATE & TIME
The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. Friday, September 18, 2026.
LOCATION
State Route 65 near East Marinette Avenue, Exeter, CA
VICTIM
An 85-year-old man was killed when his SUV was struck by a semi-truck; the truck driver was not injured.
ROAD CLOSURES
Northbound SR-65 lanes were closed with one-way traffic control on the southbound side while crews worked the scene.
INVESTIGATION
The California Highway Patrol is still investigating why the SUV rolled into the intersection.
An 85-year-old man died Friday afternoon after the SUV he was driving rolled through a stop sign and into the path of a semi-truck on State Route 65 near East Marinette Avenue, just north of Exeter in Tulare County. The California Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 2:30 p.m. when the man’s SUV stopped at the intersection but then rolled forward into the highway, where it was struck by the truck. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the semi-truck driver was not injured. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
According to ABC30 Fresno, CHP officers say they are still trying to determine why the SUV rolled into the intersection before the collision. A CHP incident feed also reported that the crash forced closures of the northbound SR-65 lanes, with one-way traffic control set up on the southbound side while crews worked the scene. No further details about the victim have been released. Authorities have not said whether a mechanical or medical factor contributed to the vehicle’s movement.
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ABC30 Fresno
@ABC30 · Sep 19, 2026
85-year-old man killed in semi-truck crash in Tulare County, CHP says
California Vehicle Code Section 21802 requires a driver who has stopped at a stop sign to yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching on the intersecting highway closely enough to be an immediate hazard before proceeding. When a stopped vehicle instead rolls forward into oncoming traffic, that failure to yield is often central to determining fault for the resulting collision. Investigators typically review vehicle data, roadway evidence, and witness statements to determine why a stopped vehicle entered the intersection.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60, the surviving family members of a person killed in a crash may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the parties responsible for the collision. Such claims can seek compensation for the financial and emotional losses the family has suffered, including lost companionship and financial support. An investigation must first establish how each driver’s conduct contributed to the crash before liability can be assessed.
This summary is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts.
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