Woman, 20, killed as car strikes a power pole near Madera Community College, CHP says

A 20-year-old driver was killed in a solo vehicle crash near Madera Community College, the California Highway Patrol said Wednesday.

The woman from Madera was driving east on Avenue 12 as she approached Road 30, and CHP said alcohol is suspected to have played a factor in the fatal crash about 2:45 a.m. Tuesday.

She allowed the 2006 Toyota Scion TC to veer off of the roadway south and attempted to re-enter the eastbound lane, sending the car across all of the lanes as it spun counter clockwise, CHP said.

The car’s driver side door struck a power pole, sheering it, and the driver suffered fatal injuries, CHP said.

Officers suspect alcohol played a role but the crash remained under investigation on Wednesday, CHP said.