Central Valley

Woman found dead after SUV crash near Pine Flat Lake in Fresno County, CHP says

Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways

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  • A woman was found dead after a single-vehicle crash in Fresno County on April 30.
  • The tan Lexus veered left across lanes, plunged down a steep embankment, and overturned.
  • The woman was ejected, was not wearing a seatbelt, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A woman was found dead on Saturday following a single-vehicle crash in Fresno County after she failed to meet someone at Kirch Flat near Pine Flat Lake on April 30.

Officers and deputies initially responded to the Kirch Flat area but could not locate the vehicle or driver.

In a joint search effort, the California Highway Patrol and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office deployed helicopters to scan the area, but the vehicle remained missing.

A deputy sergeant later discovered the tan Lexus SUV along Trimmer Springs Road, west of Maxon Road.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to CHP, the Lexus was traveling west on Trimmer Springs Road when, for reasons still under investigation, it veered left across the east lanes, continued onto the south shoulder, and plunged down a steep embankment.

The vehicle overturned multiple times, ejecting the driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, and stopped about 200 feet from the roadway.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not determined whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.

This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Woman found dead after SUV crash near Pine Flat Lake in Fresno County, CHP says."

Anthony Galaviz
The Fresno Bee
Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology. Support my work with a digital subscription
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