Elias Mayeda dies in fatal Fresno County, California canal crash

Elias Mayeda dies in fatal Fresno County, California canal crash

Fatal Fresno County, California canal crash death of Elias Mayeda – Obituary

Elias Mayeda, a 23-year-old man from Pacific Grove, lost his life Friday evening after his vehicle plunged into a canal in Fresno County.

The California Highway Patrol reported the accident occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Highway 180, just east of Zumwalt Avenue. Mayeda’s Honda Accord veered off the eastbound road, traveled onto the south dirt shoulder, and ended up submerged upside down in the fast-moving waters of the Friant Kern Canal.

Emergency responders, including the Fresno Fire Dive Team, recovered Mayeda’s body from the vehicle. Authorities conducted a downstream search but found no other victims.

Family members informed investigators that Mayeda was on a phone call when the vehicle left the roadway, which abruptly ended before the crash.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, with toxicology tests pending to determine if alcohol or drugs played a role. The inquiry remains open as officials gather more information.