Four people, including three teenagers, died in a high-speed crash early Sunday in Madera County after deputies attempted to stop a vehicle linked to reported burglaries. The crash occurred near Highway 99 and Avenue 17 after the driver fled at a high rate of speed from deputies responding to reports of vehicle break-ins near El Vado Drive.

Authorities identified the victims as ages 13, 15, 15, and 25, with an 18-year-old passenger airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the fatal crash, while the Madera County Sheriff's Office continues investigating the reported vehicle burglaries that preceded the pursuit.

This tragic incident marks one of the deadliest crashes in the region this year, highlighting the dangers of high-speed pursuits involving young drivers. The Fresno County Coroner's Office is handling victim identifications as both law enforcement agencies work to piece together the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash.