Boy stayed by mom's side after she died in Fresno County crash, CHP says

The Fresno County Coroner's Office has identified the mother as 30-year-old Bailie French of Yokuts Valley.

Vince Ybarra Image
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Boy stayed by mom's side after she died in Fresno County crash: CHP
A seven-year-old boy survived a crash that killed his mother near Auberry, and the child stayed by her side for several hours before he was found.

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A mother who was killed in a crash on Highway 168 at Qualls Prather Road in Auberry has been identified.

The Fresno County Coroner's Office has identified her as 30-year-old Bailie French of Yokuts Valley.

California Highway Patrol officers say a mother, now identified as French, lost control of her Subaru Crosstrek while leaving a friend's house and heading home to Tollhouse. She swerved off Highway 168 at Qualls Prather Road in Auberry.

"Vehicle traveled off the embankment, rolled over multiple times," said one first responder.

Officers said French and her 7-year-old son were both thrown from the car. French died, and her little boy stayed by her side for roughly 12 hours before he was found.

"We got a call of a child walking on the four-lane section of the 168, and the parties who found the child basically walked down to where the crash had happened," said CHP officer John Marsh.

The CHP had been looking for the pair since loved ones reported they were expected to return home after midnight but still hadn't shown up by 8:45 Sunday morning. A "be on the lookout" alert went out, and the little boy was spotted just before noon.

Officer Marsh said they later discovered the Subaru had fallen nearly 200 feet off an embankment.

"It was basically sitting in a grove of trees, covered and not visible from the highway," said Marsh.

Authorities believe both French and her son were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

"He said he was in a car seat that he did not fall out of," said a first responder.

The seven-year-old was taken to Valley Children's Hospital, where he was treated for several wounds, including a broken arm.

Authorities said the child was reunited with his father at the hospital.

First responders say the seven-year-old is a strong little boy. We're told he is in high spirits given the circumstances.

This crash is still under investigation.

The California Highway Patrol is still waiting for the toxicology report to see if alcohol or drugs were a factor.

For news updates, follow Vince Ybarra on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Copyright © 2025 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.