Dominiq Puentes Died, Jay Garcia Injured in Fresno Scooter Accident With Pickup Truck by Bullard Avenue and Palm Avenue
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (May 18, 2026) – A 13-year-old boy identified as Dominiq Puentes has tragically died, and his cousin Jay Garcia was seriously injured in a Fresno car accident at Bullard Avenue and Palm Avenue.
Fresno police officials are saying that the accident took place on May 1. Dominiq Puentes and Jay Garcia were riding a scooter that was hit by a pickup truck.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help both of the victims. Sadly, Dominiq Puentes died due to the severe nature of his injuries.
Jay Garcia was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He sustained severe injuries that required doctors to amputate the lower part of his leg.
You can help support his family through GoFundMe. According to the online fundraiser, “On a day that started like any other, my 12 year old son was riding his moped with his cousin when tragedy struck. He was hit by a truck, suffering a broken femur and severe damage to his leg. The doctors did everything they could, but ultimately had to Amputate his lower leg to save his life.”
You can also help support the family of Dominiq Puentes through GoFundMe. According to the online fundraiser, “My nephew tragically lost his beautiful life in a bike accident involving a truck. This is a day our family will never forget, and the pain of losing him is something no mother or family should ever have to endure.”
Liability for Fresno Truck Accidents
Drivers must use caution to avoid colliding with any pedestrian in the roadway. This requires that they operate their vehicle at a safe speed at all times. According to California Vehicle Code 22350, “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.” There are many ways that a truck driver may have acted negligently prior to a crash.
- Blind Spots: A truck driver may fail to check their blind spots before turning at an intersection.
- Distractions: A truck driver may be distracted by looking at their cell phone.
- Intoxicated: A truck driver may have been intoxicated through their use of drugs or alcohol.
If a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting any pedestrian in the roadway, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Drivers must slow down to avoid hitting pedestrians, even if they are outside of lawfully marked crosswalks. Liability for a pedestrian collision could extend to several parties beyond any specific driver determined to be at fault. In particular, pickup trucks are routinely used for commercial purposes. A city could also be liable for a pedestrian accident if it was caused by a dangerous condition on public property.
Investigating Fresno Truck Accidents
Scooters and mopeds have become increasingly common across California and the United States. Sadly, this has coincided with a sharp rise in scooter collisions. According to John Hopkins Medicine, “From 2020–24, there were 2,117 recorded pediatric e-scooter injuries in the dataset. Boys under the age of 18 made up 70.7% of cases. Children ages 11 to 14 accounted for 38.3% of cases.” It is important that certain measures are taken after any truck accident.
- The police report created after the accident should be sought.
- All of the medical records associated with the collision should be preserved.
- The purpose of any truck driver’s trip prior to a collision should be understood.
- The history of collisions at the accident site should be studied.
- The family of any person who died in a pedestrian accident should seek an independent review by a team experienced in accident reconstruction and negligence claims.
Car accidents are often highly complex and highly preventable. They could involve liability of several different entities. Part of the problem is that cities across California have not kept pace with the influx of scooters and pedestrians. More and more riders are sharing the roads with larger vehicles. Victims of scooter accidents are protected by a number of laws. In particular, the family of any person who died in a collision is able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Investigating Fresno Truck Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Dominiq Puentes. It is our sincere hope that Jay Garcia will continue to recover from his injuries. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. City officials need to do more to separate scooters and vehicles, especially on school grounds.
Do you need more information about a Fresno truck accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
