Major injury accident reported near Los Banos

A 40-year-old driver received major injuries on Monday after he swerved to avoid an animal in the roadway and lost control of his truck, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The incident was reported at 3:15 p.m. on Little Panoche Road, west of Interstate 5 in the Los Banos area.

Carlos Barba was driving a 1991 Chevy S-10 eastbound on Little Panoche Road when he spotted the animal in the roadway. He turned the vehicle to the left to avoid hitting the animal. The pickup traveled off the roadway and onto the dirt shoulder, and Barba lost control of the vehicle after turning it back to the right, according to CHP.

The pickup swerved to the right, crossed the roadway and went through a barbed wire fence. The truck traveled down a steep hill and overturned at the bottom. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and Barba was flown to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for treatment. His condition is unknown.

The crash remains under investigation.

-- Sun-Star staff