An investigation into a New Year's Day crash in Avenal, California, in 2021 that killed nine people — including seven children — has prompted the National Transportation Safety Board to call for an alcohol-impairment detection system to be installed in all new cars.
The NTSB, which investigates the most severe traffic collisions along with other transit disasters, wants in-vehicle technology that tests all motorists for potential impairment. The recommendation comes after reports on the deadly Fresno County collision show it was caused by an impaired driver who was speeding nearly 100 mph.
The crash occurred when Daniel Luna slammed head-first into a pickup truck carrying seven children ages 6 to 15 years on State Route 33 between Avenal and Coalinga, NTSB officials said. Luna was driving a Dodge Journey SUV, traveling 98 mph on the rural stretch of road, federal authorities said. He ran off the shoulder of the road to the right and overcorrected, swerving across the center line and directly in front of an oncoming Ford F-150 pickup truck.
