The intersection of Bullard Avenue and Palm Avenue in northwest Fresno has seen tragedy before. Residents remember the 2020 crash that claimed four lives. But late Friday night, the intersection added another name to that grim history. Around 10:40 p.m., emergency lines lit up with calls. A moped and a white truck had collided. Two juveniles were down.
When officers arrived, they found Dominiq Puentes on the ground with catastrophic injuries. The 13-year-old had been operating the moped. Behind him sat a 12 year old passenger. Puentes was pronounced dead at the scene. The younger boy was rushed to Community Regional Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.
Early reports mistakenly listed Puentes as 17. The Fresno County Coroner’s Office later corrected his age. He was 13. A student at Phoenix Secondary Academy. He had previously attended Tenaya Middle School. The Fresno Unified School District issued a statement expressing grief and offering support resources for students and staff.
The white truck involved had been traveling west on Bullard Avenue. The driver entered the intersection at Palm, and the collision occurred. The driver did not flee. He stayed. He spoke with officers. He showed no signs of alcohol or drug use. Police do not believe impairment played a role. A motorcycle was attached to the truck at the time, a detail investigators are still examining.
The Fresno Police Department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit is now reviewing physical evidence and surveillance footage from nearby businesses. The scene was complicated by a large crowd of pedestrians who gathered immediately after the impact, creating chaos for first responders.
The next day, family members and neighbors returned to the intersection. They left balloons. They lit candles. They stood on the same corner where a 13 year old boy stopped breathing. Local business owners near Bullard and Palm say fatal crashes are not new here. Speeding is common. Hurried drivers run lights. Residents have complained for years.
Police are asking anyone with additional information or video footage to contact the department’s non emergency line at 559 621 7000. The investigation remains open. A family is planning a funeral. A 12 year old boy is fighting for his life in a hospital bed. And a white truck with a motorcycle attached sits in an impound lot, waiting to tell its part of the story.