Two killed in head-on collision near Mendota

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two farmworkers were killed Friday morning in a crash while they headed to work near Mendota.

Coworkers of the men said the two were always on time to work and often arrived early, so when they didn't show up that morning they knew something was wrong.

A mangled chassis is all that remains of the car that 23-year-old Rosalino Rodriguez and his uncle 35-year-old Donaciano Zurita were traveling in.

The crash happened just after 5:30 a.m. on San Mateo between Floral and Nebraska Avenues in the Fresno County town of Cantua Creek.

The two were in the southbound lane when they were hit head-on by the driver of a blue Dodge Charger travelling in the northbound lane.

The California Highway Patrol says it seems as if the driver veered off the road, overcorrected and hit them.

They believe the suspect was driving under the influence and say he fled the scene after the accident happened.

"We did have information saying that someone ran from the scene and someone possibly got into another vehicle," Sgt. Joseph Bianchi with the CHP said. "Judging from the distance and the amount of time to find him, I'm pretty confident that he had to have left in the vehicle."

Coworkers say the men were on their way to help workers collect farm wine grapes near a field less than a mile from where the accident happened.

The men's managers say it is a tragic loss and they tell Action News that their thoughts and prayers are with both employees families.