On the evening of November 15, 2009, 36-year-old Ruben Rodriguez was killed in a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 180 in Fresno County near South Sonoma Avenue. Rodriguez was driving a Chevrolet Malibu westbound when his vehicle veered left, sideswiping an older Mustang before colliding head-on with a Toyota Camry. He was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from his vehicle, and his car caught fire. Rodriguez was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died. The other two drivers were injured and hospitalized.

Authorities temporarily closed the area for cleanup and preliminary investigation. At the time of the report the cause of the crash remained under investigation, and it was not known whether alcohol, drugs, or any other factors contributed. If anyone witnessed the crash or has information that could shed light on what happened that night, please share it with Fresno County investigators.