CHP arrests man suspected of fleeing crash near Orange Cove

ORANGE COVE – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrested a man wanted for fleeing a single-vehicle crash near Orange Cove that left one man dead. 

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office (FSO) announced on the evening of Feb. 6 that Gerardo Lopez Perez, 26, of Oaxaca, Mexico, was arrested in connection to a crash that occurred along Manning Avenue southwest of Orange Cove around 7:45 p.m. on Feb. 5. According to CHP, a Honda Accord traveling eastbound on Manning at a high rate of speed made an abrupt turn onto the right shoulder and collided with multiple orange trees before overturning. 

The passenger, identified by FSO as Ciriaco Santiago Gomez, 36, of Aberdeen, Washington, was pronounced dead at the scene after sustaining fatal injuries. CHP said in a press release that the vehicle’s driver fled on foot immediately after the crash. A CHP helicopter, along with officers from the Orange Cove Police Department, assisted in the search for the driver but were initially unsuccessful. 

According to the Fresno County Jail booking report, Lopez Perez was arrested around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 6. He is being charged with non-negligent manslaughter, hit and run resulting in death and driving without a license.

CHP is investigating the incident, and it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash. Anyone with information should contact Fresno-area CHP at 559-262-0400.