March 31 wrongful death accident at Akers and Caldwell in Visalia leads to murder charges

On March 31 Ruben and Gloria Mendoza, along with their 17-year-old son Ruben Mendoza Jr. were killed when their vehicle was broadsided by an SUV driven by Erick Head. Reportedly Head was evading a police officer who was attempting to pull him over on Highway 99 near Avenue 280 in Visalia. Head exited with his flat-bed trailer at Caldwell Avenue and sped along until hitting the Mendoza's vehicle at the Akers intersection. A third vehicle was also hit, resulting in minor injuries. Head tried to run away from the scene of the accident on foot. Head's passenger, Christina Garcia, was ejected from the vehicle, was treated for mild to moderate injuries at Kaweah Delta Medical Center, and was not charged with a crime. Head, however, was given several criminal charges including three accounts of first-degree murder.