Teacher is one of three killed in fatal crash near Los Banos

Three people died in a two-car collision just outside of Los Banos, including a popular math teacher and his father, on Tuesday night.

Michael Bartlett, a popular teacher and chairman of the math department at Los Banos High School, was among the victims.

According to the California Highway Patrol, George Andrade, 30, of Los Banos, was driving a 1999 Volkswagon Passat westbound on Ingomar Grade west of Sylvester Road at a high rate of speed at 10:58 p.m. The Passat missed the S-curve in the road and traveled into the eastbound lane, causing the front end of a 2004 Saturn Ion driven by Brett Bartlett, 58, of Los Banos, to hit Andrade’s driver’s side door.

Michael Bartlett, 33, 2as a passenger in the Ion driven by his father.

CHP officials say drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash. Weather was also not involved, according to the CHP.

Los Banos High Principal Ryan Hartsoch said school psychologists were on campus meeting with Michael Bartlett’s students and co-workers to help them cope with his death. Hartsoch, who found out about the accident at 6 a.m. Wednesday, said the psychologists may remain on campus the remainder of the week if needed.

Students went to class and wrote notes to their math teacher expressing their feelings about his death. The notes were placed on his classroom door.

Michael Bartlett started working at the Los Banos Unified School District in 2006. He was part of the district’s transition to Common Core State Standards. He taught advanced placement classes and a section on integrated math.

Hartsoch called Michael Bartlett “second to none” in a telephone interview. “Mike was a fixture on this campus.”

There is about a month before the end of the school year. Superintendent Steve Tietjen said an AP math teacher is likely to step in to teach Michael Bartlett’s classes.

Tietjen, who visited Los Banos High Wednesday to lend his support, said Michael Bartlett was beloved.

“He was a popular teacher, they’re hurting,” he said. “It’s a pretty sad day.”

This story was originally published April 29, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Teacher is one of three killed in fatal crash near Los Banos."