Man Who Helped Motorist, One of Two Killed in Fresno Collision

November 10, 2009

Fresno – Two men, one of whom was helping to refuel a parked vehicle, died recently after a car hit them along Interstate 5, the California Highway Patrol said.

The men were identified as 23-year-old Brian Bannister from Westlake Village and 21-year-old Rigoberto Gomez Cortez from Kerman.

Reports indicate that Gomez was working on a nearby field near Manning Avenue and crossed a fence to help Bannister who was heading north when he pulled over and got off his vehicle.

The men were said to be refueling the vehicle when they were hit by a northbound car driven by 62-year-old Cynthia Merrit who was rushed to a hospital after sustaining serious injuries.

The two men died while a passenger in the parked vehicle was unharmed.