- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
High school student killed crossing Highway 99 in Fresno
16-year-old victim identified as Maxwell Thompson, a student at Justin Garza High School
Published on Feb. 6, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A 16-year-old student at Justin Garza High School was struck and killed while attempting to cross the northbound lanes of Highway 99 in Fresno on Thursday morning. The Fresno County Coroner's Office confirmed the victim's identity as Maxwell Thompson. This is the second pedestrian death reported along Highway 99 in the past two weeks.
Why it matters
Pedestrian deaths on highways are a growing concern, as freeways are designed for high-speed vehicle travel and leave drivers with little time to react to unexpected hazards. This tragic incident involving a young student highlights the risks and dangers pedestrians face when attempting to cross busy highways.
The details
According to the California Highway Patrol, Maxwell Thompson was attempting to cross the northbound lanes of Highway 99 toward the center divider when he was hit by a pickup truck. Officers and emergency medical personnel arrived within minutes but were unable to save Thompson, who died at the scene. This is the second pedestrian death reported on Highway 99 in the past two weeks, with a 37-year-old man also struck and killed late last month while walking in traffic on the southbound side of the highway.
- On Thursday morning, February 6, 2026, the incident occurred.
- The Fresno County Coroner's Office confirmed the victim's identity on Friday, February 7, 2026.
The players
Maxwell Thompson
A 16-year-old student at Justin Garza High School who was killed while attempting to cross Highway 99 in Fresno.
California Highway Patrol
The law enforcement agency that responded to the incident and is urging drivers to report any pedestrians seen on freeways, as they are at extreme risk.
What they’re saying
“Freeways are designed for high-speed vehicle travel and leave drivers with little to no time to react to unexpected hazards.”
— Ian Holguin, CHP Commander, Captain (fresnobee.com)
“Pedestrians on freeways are at extreme risk.”
— Ian Holguin, CHP Commander, Captain (fresnobee.com)
What’s next
The CHP is urging drivers to immediately report any pedestrians they see walking along or attempting to cross a freeway, in order to prevent further tragedies.
The takeaway
This incident underscores the need for increased safety measures and public awareness around the dangers of pedestrians on highways. It serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of finding safe alternatives for crossing busy freeways, especially for young people.
