Parlier Man Juan Rodriguez Passes After Collision with Semi-Truck Near Del Rey

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. — The community is reeling following a deadly collision that claimed the life of Juan Rodriguez, 41, of Parlier. The veteran worker and father of several children tragically passed early Wednesday morning in a crash near Del Rey, just outside the large POM Wonderful processing plant. Authorities say the crash involved a Dodge Challenger and a semi-truck, and investigations are underway to determine exactly how the fatal impact occurred.

According to the initial report from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened before dawn near the facility on West Herndon Avenue off Highway 33, in the midst of fog-shrouded rural fields. Rodriguez was driving a 2013 Dodge Challenger eastbound when, for reasons still unclear, his vehicle collided with a large semi-tractor trailer that was traveling in the opposite direction. The force of the collision caused catastrophic damage to the Challenger. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene by medical responders who arrived within minutes. The driver of the semi-truck was reportedly uninjured, though shaken and cooperating with investigators.

Witnesses reported seeing the Challenger veer across the centerline and into the path of the semi-truck, though weather and lighting conditions may have contributed. Investigators are collecting surveillance footage from the plant site, reviewing the semi-truck’s logbook and the Challenger’s maintenance records, and will perform toxicology and mechanical analyses. The California Highway Patrol and Fresno County coroner’s office have been called in to assist. Authorities have temporarily closed the roadway while teams comb the area for evidence.

Rodriguez was known in the Parlier community as a hardworking man who supported his family with a strong work ethic and a kind disposition. He is survived by his wife and four children, ages ranging from 6 to 14, who are now facing life without their father. Friends and neighbors spoke of his readiness to help others, his involvement in youth sports, and his pride in his hometown.

In the wake of the tragedy, local business associates and church members have mobilized to provide support for the family. A GoFundMe page has been established to help with funeral costs and ongoing needs of his children. Community leaders from Parlier, Del Rey and the surrounding area gathered at the POM facility’s prayer site to light candles and share memories of Rodriguez’s impact on those around him.

Fresno County officials emphasized that although the semi-truck driver remains under investigation, no determination of fault has yet been made. The coroner’s office will release an official cause of death once the autopsy and toxicology results are complete, expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, investigators asked anyone who may have dash-camera footage of the crash area or who witnessed the Challenger’s behavior prior to impact to contact the sheriff’s critical incident team.

This tragic incident has prompted reflection across Fresno County about the hazards of rural highways, especially pre-dawn hours and heavy-vehicle traffic. Traffic safety advocates noted that differences in vehicle size, speed, and lighting can drastically raise risk, particularly when standard commuter vehicles like the Dodge Challenger face off against massive commercial rigs.

Rodriguez’s family, coworkers, friends and supporters now face a difficult period of mourning. Funeral arrangements are pending; the family requested privacy but said all are welcome to attend a community memorial service to be held next Saturday at the Parlier Community Center. Rodriguez will be remembered not only for his work and dedication but for his smiling encouragement and love for his children.

As the community works to support the family and understand how this crash occurred, the hope remains that the findings will lead to answers for the grieving loved ones and lessons to prevent similar tragedies. Juan Rodriguez’s sudden passing has left a profound void in Parlier and beyond, and the town joins together in sorrow and tribute to a life taken far too soon.