Canal crash victims died by drowning

New information is available in the case of three recent Hanford West High School graduates killed in a rural Kings County canal crash earlier this week, as local coroners report that all three victims died of freshwater drowning.

Carlos Sigala, Jesus Rios and Cory Kennedy, who were found early Tuesday morning in a canal off the intersection of 13th and Jersey avenues, were last seen leaving the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore soon after midnight on Tuesday.

Unofficial reports suggest that the trio had traveled to the casino to seek job applications sometime on Monday afternoon.

Surveillance video recovered shows that Sigala was behind the wheel when the teens left the Palace. They were apparently traveling eastbound on Jersey Avenue when the driver failed to negotiate a curve onto northbound 13th Avenue, causing the 2001 Hyundai Elantra to overturn in the canal.

None of the victims was wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, according to the CHP report. Officials also confirm that at least two of the vehicle's windows were rolled down when the vehicle entered the water, while the front windshield smashed out as well.

Residents that live near the fateful intersection say that accidents happen in that canal at least once or twice a year, though no officials could be reached to substantiate this claim.

Investigators are currently waiting for blood test results from the victims, which will take an estimated two weeks to gather.

Funeral services for Carlos Sigala will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in south Hanford, on Hanford-Armona Road. A donation account was set up to help pay for the funeral expenses with Bank of America. Contributions can be made to the Carlos Sigala account at their branch location. Accounts have also been set up in the names of the other two victims, as well.

Car washes were also held at Hanford West High School until noon today with the goal of raising $10,000 for the families of the victims. Additional car washes were held at Longs Drug Store at 11th and Fargo avenues and at the Armona Fire Department. Each lasted from 9 a.m. until noon.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(June 12, 2008)