Father and daughter from Fresno killed in Highway 41 crash in canal identified by coroner
Two Fresno residents killed in a Highway 41 crash that ended with the van they were in submerged in a canal were identified Friday by the Kings County Coroner’s Office.
Piruz Prastuy, 75, and 10-year-old Amitis Prastuy were passengers in a 2016 Mercedes-Benz van that left the roadway and crashed into the full canal near the highway and Quebec Avenue, the coroner’s office confirmed.
A 45-year-old woman, who shared the Prastuy surname, was driving the van and was in critical condition at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, the California Highway Patrol said.
The coroner’s office said the victims were a father and daughter, but could not immediately confirm how the driver was related.
They were headed north on Highway 41 near Quebec Avenue in Kings County before 4 p.m. Wednesday, the CHP said.
The driver tried to pass a slower moving big rig in the van on a section of highway where there are two lanes north of Kettleman City, CHP said.
She did not have enough time to get around the big rig and swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision, CHP said.
The van was quickly submerged after it crashed into the canal full of water, CHP said.
A witness stopped and was able to help the driver get out of the water but could not get to the other two passengers, CHP said.
The big rig driver also remained on scene, CHP said.
The man and girl were pronounced dead at the scene, CHP said. The CHP initially said the man was 66, but the coroner said Friday he was 75.
