Victims of double fatal crash in Tulare County identified. DUI suspected, CHP says

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday identified two people killed in a head-on collision south of Porterville last week. They were:

• Tracy Hicks, 55, of Terra Bella
• Martin Ceballos, 29, of Porterville

They died Friday, Aug. 17 in a two-vehicle crash around 9:45 p.m. on Road 236, just south of Avenue 104.

The California Highway Patrol in a news release sent Tuesday described the initial findings at the crash scene: A pickup truck driven by Ceballos was traveling north at a high rate of speed when it drifted for “reasons still under investigation” across the solid double yellow line, into the southbound lane and an oncoming car driven by Hicks.

The two vehicles collided.

Following the crash, both Hicks and Ceballos were pronounced deceased by emergency personnel at the scene, CHP said.

While the exact cause remains under investigation, the CHP said alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.