Five Men Killed in Collision

Five farmworkers were killed on their way to work in western Fresno County when a tractor-trailer ran a stop sign and smashed into their sport utility vehicle, setting off an explosion, authorities said Wednesday.

After the collision, which occurred just before 6 a.m. Tuesday, the diesel tanks on the truck ruptured and both vehicles burst into flames.

“It was a very tragic scene,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Van Horn. “It was probably the worst I’ve seen.”

The driver of the truck, Neftali Damiani, 28, told authorities that he didn’t see the stop sign until it was too late. He said he stepped on the brakes when he saw the SUV approaching the intersection.

Van Horn said Damiani could face felony charges of gross vehicular manslaughter.

“Even if he didn’t mean to, he went through the intersection,” Van Horn said.

The coroner’s office identified the SUV driver as Salvadoran immigrant Ezequiel Pineda, 21, and one of the passengers as Alfredo Cruz Bonilla, 24, both of Mendota, Calif.

Authorities identified another passenger but withheld his name pending notification of family members. The two other passengers had not been identified, the coroner’s office said.

All five victims were badly burned in the crash, and four appeared to be wearing their seat belts, authorities said.

The men were on their way to work at Paramount Farms near Kettleman City.

“This one was bad, because they weren’t doing anything wrong,” said Fresno County Deputy Coroner Joseph Tiger. “They were going to work, minding their own business.”

The roads surrounding the crash near Mendota were closed for about 12 hours because of the diesel fuel spill.