2 dead, two have major injuries after hit-and-run crash on 99

The California Highway Patrol is searching for a hit-and-run driver who authorities say caused a crash that killed two people and left two others with major injuries on Highway 99 on Monday morning.

All four victims were family members from Laton, a small town in Fresno County.

A white or silver sedan was traveling north in the slow lane of Highway 99 south of Westside Boulevard when it swerved into the center lane and hit a Nissan Xterra about 9 a.m., according to CHP Officer Moises Onsurez.

The impact caused the Xterra to overturn into the grass center divide, then continue into the southbound lanes of Highway 99.

The driver of the sedan continued north and hit a second vehicle, a Nissan Versa, which veered into the southbound lanes but did not overturn. The driver of the sedan did not stop at the scene, Onsurez said.

Both rear passengers in the Xterra, a 45-year-old woman and 53-year-old man, were ejected from the vehicle, Onsurez said. The woman died at the scene and the man was taken by helicopter to Doctors Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition.

The front seat passenger, a man in his 70s, also died at the scene. The driver, a 22-year-old man, suffered major injuries.

Onsurez did not release any of the victims’ names because family had not been notified Monday afternoon.

No one in the Versa was injured.

All three southbound lanes were closed for about 30 minutes and traffic backed up about five miles while officers investigated the collision.

The white or silver sedan that left the scene likely will have front and driver’s side damage. Anyone with information about the vehicle or the driver is asked to call Onsurez at (209) 356-2958.

This story was originally published February 16, 2015 at 11:05 AM with the headline "2 dead, two have major injuries after hit-and-run crash on 99."