5 killed, 2 severely injured in crash near Table Mountain Casino

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A crash just down the road from a popular Fresno County casino has left five people dead and two critically injured.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is investigating the deadly crash.

It happened just before 4:30 am on Saturday near Millerton Lake on Millerton Road and Marina Drive, just a few miles down the road from Table Mountain Casino.

Officials say a grey Hyundai and a White Honda were involved in the collision.

They say at least five people died and two others were critically injured in the crash.

The injured were transported by chopper and ground ambulance to Community Regional Medical Center.

The victims who were killed were later identified as 20-year-old Javier Hernandez of Lemoore, 43-year-old Miguel Tijerina of Clovis, 32-year-old Marcelino Ramirez of Clovis, 28-year-old John Carlin of Fresno, and 48-year-old Ramandeep Sran of Kerman.

Hernandez, Tijerina, Ramirez, and Carlin all worked together at a local business.

One of the injured victims, Jugjeet Muhar, spoke with Action News.

He said Sran, killed in the crash, was one of his cousins.

Together, they were spending time with another of their cousins at Table Mountain Casino that evening, before the crash.

A longtime resident of the nearby neighborhood says it's not uncommon to hear these tragic stories, especially with the expansion of Table Mountain Casino.

"Every year, we get a fatality on this round. I know they don't serve alcohol at Table Mountain but people get stoked before they come up and we got tour buses, construction, you name it," said Gerald.

Gerald has been advocating for change on that roadway for several years.

"I understand table M has expanded the roadway but where they stop we are promised from DC that they would finish the rest. I think this needs to be illuminated, it's too dark out here at night."

Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig says the project to finish construction on the three-mile stretch between Auberry and Friant Roads has not been forgotten and plans are still in motion.

Meanwhile, Mike Salas with the California Highway Patrol says it's important people stay vigilant when driving anywhere.

None of the men involved in this crash were wearing their seatbelts, and Salas said it's believed alcohol may have played a role.

"Just a reminder to everyone to make sure we focus on our driving and make sure we have those seatbelts always fastened," he said.