A head-on collision between a big rig and a car killed three people around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning on Highway 180 east of Mendota.
Two people inside a Ford Escort and the female driver of the big rig died at the scene. A male passenger in the big rig survived the crash and was transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.
California Highway Patrol says the woman driving the big rig had no way to control the vehicle after hitting the car because the front axle was torn from her rig.
Neighbors in the area heard the crash directed traffic around the crash until emergency crews arrived.
CHP suspects alcohol may have been a factor in the crash after beer bottles were found in and around the Ford Escort.
The highway remained closed for more than 6 hours while investigators collected evidence and removed the vehicles.
