Investigation continues in fatal crash

Lemoore police are still investigating a fatal, two-vehicle car crash from Friday that left a Huron man dead and an Armona woman injured, police officials said. Investigators said Erica Perez was driving west on Highway 198, approaching 19th Avenue, when she collided with the rear end of a big-rig truck trailer. The impact, according to police Cmdr. Jeff Laws, was enough to total Perez's Jeep Wrangler, injuring her and killing her passenger.

Huron resident Rigoberto Campos Montoya, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene. An official examination of his body has not yet been made by the Kings County Sheriff's Department, though one is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Laws said the noon accident blocked the right-hand lane on Highway 198 for at least an hour, limiting commuters to one lane of travel.

Perez was transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno and has since been released, law enforcement officials said.

The damage to the truck trailer was minimal, and long-haul truck driver Michael Kenney was not injured in the crash.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(Jan. 6, 2009)