Two people dead after separate car crashes in Madera County

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two people are dead after two different collisions in Madera County Sunday night.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to a head-on collision around 6 p.m. near Highway 41 and Avenue 15.

Investigators say 24-year-old Lorenzo Antonio Morales-Cortes of Fresno was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro when he crossed into the other lane and collided head on with a Mini Cooper.

A 19-year-old Madera woman died as a result of the crash. Her identity has not been revealed yet.

"The other driver of the Camero had major injuries and was transferred to a local trauma center," said CHP Sergeant Taka Hiura.

Investigators say alcohol appears to be a factor in this crash.

RELATED: 16-year-old passenger killed in suspected DUI crash in Fresno County, CHP says

Then, Sergeant Hiura said about three miles south, traffic was backed up near the intersection of Avenue 12 and Road 40 in Madera because of another incident, this one involving a pedestrian.

"While our investigators were working the primary scene on avenue 15, we received calls of a pedestrian that was down on avenue 12," said Sergeant Hiura.

He said the pedestrian was a male who was pronounced dead on the scene.

Sergeant Hiura says CHP is fully staffed; he says they expected it to be busy Sunday evening.

Clovis Police also prepared for a busy night.

"Normally you're gonna have about 11 to 12 patrol officers that are handling every day calls for service. Having the extra two officers, three officers is gonna take staffing levels to about 15. Those extra officers are solely focused on DUI's," said Clovis Patrol Officer AJ Ferguson.

He said having those extra officers on the streets will hopefully discourage people from drinking and driving.

Going back to Sergeant Hiura, he says they are looking for witnesses and if anyone has any information regarding either one of these incidents in Madera County, you're encouraged to contact the California Highway Patrol.

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