A young Hanford man has died after he sustained critical injuries in a major traffic accident on Highway 198 more than a week ago.

Kenneth Yates, 18, was diagnosed with massive head trauma and taken by helicopter to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. He remained there on life support until he succumbed to his injuries three days later.

Yates and three other people landed in the hospital on Jan. 25 after their vehicle was hit from behind by an SUV traveling 65 to 70 miles per hour. The driver of the SUV has not been identified by law enforcement, except as a 17-year-old teen from Hanford.

Comments left on HanfordSentinel.com allege that the teen may have been sending text messages on his cell phone when the two vehicles collided.

“We have looked into it, but we cannot comment on it at this time,” said Jerry Pierce, the Hanford California Highway Patrol spokesman. “It’s very difficult to track texting incidents during collisions. We all know it is illegal, because it diverts you from what you need to be doing, which is watching the road.”

Other victims included Daniel Corral, 20; Sarah Barton, 17; and Whitney Madruga, 17; all from Hanford. They were also treated at Community Regional for serious injuries, but each has since been released from medical care, hospital officials said.

The fifth and final victim, 18-year-old Lauren Knight, escaped with only minor complaints of pain to her neck and back.

The Kings County Coroner’s Office said Yates died as a result of multiple blunt-force trauma injuries sustained in the crash.

The victims were headed east on Highway 198 when they came upon the scene of an earlier traffic accident, just west of 12th Avenue. Driver Daniel Corral slowed his Chevrolet Cavalier down to 20-25 miles per hour as they passed, only to be struck from behind by the SUV, the CHP said.

The impact spun the car out of control. It smashed into the raised concrete divider and came to rest, blocking both lanes of eastbound traffic.

An updated CHP report of the crash suggests that three of the Cavalier’s occupants — Yates, Barton and Madruga — were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Investigators will likely file a final report by the end of the week, which may recommend that the District Attorney’s Office seek charges against the 17-year-old driver. Pierce said he could not comment on whether this avenue will be pursued or not.

Funeral arrangements for Yates could not be confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425. To comment on this story, go to www.HanfordSentinel.com.

(Feb. 2010)