Mayor survives COVID hospitalization
Madera Mayor Santos Garcia is feeling lucky to be alive after his recent battle and six day hospitalization with COVID-19 and wants to share his cautionary tale. Garcia, 64, began feeling ill on Feb. 3, the evening of a city council meeting held remotely on Zoom. Having tested negative for the virus several times before […]
Semi overturns, snarls SR99 traffic
The driver of a semi truck sustained unknown injuries after the truck and trailer he was operating crashed and overturned on State Route 99, just north of Robertson Boulevard. The wrecked cab and trailer blocked both lanes of northbound traffic on State Route 99 at about 11:30 Thursday morning, bringing traffic to a halt on […]
1 dead in first fatality of 2021
An off road drive under the influence of alcohol on New Year’s Eve went terribly wrong, according to the California Highway Patrol, and resulted in the death of a passenger and major injuries to another 17-year-old passenger. Authorities say 28-year-old Ashton Wilfong of Friant was driving under the influence of alcohol shortly after midnight in […]
Fiery crash kills 1
A 30-year-old Madera man was killed, on State Route 145 just south of Avenue 9, when the car he was a passenger in was struck head on by another car, according to the California Highway Patrol. Passing motorists stopped and helped all five of the seriously injured occupants out of the wrecked vehicles, as one […]
Altercation leads to shots fired in Parkwood area
A brief altercation led to five to six rounds being fired from a vehicle at a group standing in the 27000 block of Saunders Road, in the area of old Parkwood, according to Madera police authorities. Sgt. Mark Trukki said the shots were fired about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday from a small caliber handgun, and landed […]
Fire guts vacant building
An early morning fire in a vacant warehouse building along south E Street near 10th Street quickly gutted the interior and contents of the structure, according to Calfire authorities. Battalion chief James Forga said the fire was first reported about 4:30 a.m. Monday when smoke and flames were first seen coming from the building. “The […]
Woman hit, killed by car
FAIRMEAD — An unidentified woman was walking in heavy fog when she was hit and killed. She was found by a passing motorist just before midnight Sunday near Fairmead Boulevard and Avenue 23, according to the California Highway Patrol. Authorities with the coroner’s office are looking for the public’s help in identifying the victim and […]
Family loses house in fire
The Madera Fire Department responded to a residential rooftop fire at a home at the intersection of Sunset Avenue and Schnoor Streets. The fire, which was seen by passing motorists on Monday evening, appeared to have started in the rooftop heating unit, according to Madera Battalion Fire Chief James Forga. The fire displaced a family […]
Madera police cracks down on racing
The Madera Police Department has announced an increased enforcement effort targeting reckless drivers — those speeding, racing or otherwise endangering the public and other motorists. Sgt. Nick Webster said the problem of speeding, drag racing and otherwise reckless driving is widespread in the entire city of Madera, but police have recently gotten numerous complaints during […]
Man survives DUI crash
A 26-year-old man is lucky to be alive, according to Madera police, after a high speed alleged DUI collision on Mace Street near east 5th Street. Officers said Francisco Santos-Guzman, of Washington was driving his black 2019 Ford Mustang when he lost control and struck several large trees and spun out into a fence before […]