Survivor speaks out after crash kills 3 near Caruthers

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A survivor in a deadly crash is talking about what happened seconds before the tragedy and her confrontation with the driver who officers believe caused the crash.

The crash happened late Thursday afternoon near Caruthers at Elm and Floral avenues. Investigators say the driver of a health care truck failed to stop at a stop sign.

Jennifer Toste was driving behind the van when her sister hollered as the royal blue truck headed right toward them. Toste was taking a shortcut back home from Fresno to Riverdale through Caruthers. She was driving a Nissan Cube with her sister and 12-year-old daughter, when instantly car after car was smashed and spinning.

"I thought, I thought we were dead," said Toste. "I just I came to and my sister's screaming. I could hear nothing from my daughter, and my leg was pinned in the dash, and my foot was caught underneath the accelerator."

Toste was released from Community Regional Medical Center Friday morning with a deep cut to her hand and other minor injuries.

Some witnesses have said they heard the driver of the health care truck say his brakes weren't working properly. California Highway Patrol officers have taken the truck as evidence and will be testing it for any mechanical problems.

The intersection has been a dangerous one. Since 2001, 16 crashes have happened there; three were fatal and seven other were injury collisions.

After Thursday's crash, Toste confronted the Apria Healthcare driver she said after realizing three people were dead and others injured and traumatized. She didn't hold back.

"I was screaming at him," said Toste. "I told him look what you did. He didn't say nothing. He didn't say nothing."

The three victims who died have not been identified yet. They are believed to be farm workers who may be from Mexico.