Teen hospitalized after semi-truck collision in Clovis fog

A teenage driver was taken to a hospital following a collision Friday morning on Minnewawa Avenue near Shepherd Avenue in Clovis. The crash involved a semi-truck and another vehicle and occurred in foggy conditions that local drivers said reduced visibility on the busy corridor.

California Highway Patrol and Clovis police officers responded to the scene. Southbound Minnewawa was closed while emergency crews worked to clear the wreckage and traffic delays built during the morning response. Authorities confirmed the teen was hospitalized but did not immediately release their condition.

Collisions involving large commercial vehicles can produce severe injuries and complicated scenes for first responders. The involvement of a semi-truck underscores concerns about visibility, stopping distances and the heightened danger when heavy trucks and passenger vehicles meet in limited-visibility conditions. For Fresno County residents who drive the Minnewawa and Shepherd corridors daily, the crash is a reminder of how quickly conditions can turn perilous during winter fog.

Public health and safety officials say motor vehicle injuries remain a leading source of emergency room visits and a drain on local medical resources. When crashes happen near major arteries, road closures and slowdowns can delay other emergency transports and impact clinic access for people in east Clovis and surrounding neighborhoods. Local schools, employers and bus routes often feel ripple effects from even temporary shutdowns of a main thoroughfare.

The incident also raises questions about teen driver preparedness and commercial vehicle safety oversight. Young drivers are still building judgment and experience in adverse weather, and the combination of limited visibility and heavy vehicles increases risk. Community advocates have pushed for expanded local education on winter driving, more visible warning signage in fog-prone stretches and regular enforcement of safe speed and following-distance rules for all drivers, including commercial operators.

For residents, the immediate takeaway is caution: slow down in fog, use low beams, leave extra space and allow more travel time. Local authorities will continue investigating the collision, and CHP guidelines on driving in reduced visibility remain a practical resource for commuters.

This crash is a local warning to treat foggy mornings seriously. Expect ongoing traffic impacts during investigations and stay alert on Minnewawa and nearby streets as crews finish their work and officials review what happened.