MADERA, Calif. (KFSN) — The California Highway Patrol says 106 deaths were caused by accidents in the Madera area between 2020 and 2023.

The agency recently received $130,000 in grants to help combat these deadly statistics and make the county’s roads and highways safer.

That’s good news for Maria Balch, who has been fighting to make the roads safe in Madera County since she was in an accident.

“When I was in the hospital after my car accident, I made a promise that if God kept me alive, he would keep me here for a reason, and I would make sure I fought,” Balch said.

About six years ago, Balch was pushed into oncoming traffic by another vehicle while stopped on 12th Avenue near Highway 41.

“When they were taking me to a safe place first, the car exploded in front of me,” Balch said.

The California Highway Patrol’s Madera Area Office says that in addition to fatal accidents, more than 2,600 people have been injured due to car collisions.

“It’s very heartbreaking, as we talked about before, this is 100% preventable,” said CHP Madera spokesman Sergio Moreno.

The Fatal Reduction through Education and Enforcement grant, also known as FREE, from the California Office of Highway Safety. The grant will provide additional officers to cover Highways 145, 152, 99 and Highway 41, including unincorporated rural roads.

Moreno says they hope to include community outreach activities to educate people about the rules of the road.

“This grant will allow us to not only deploy additional officers to patrol, but also reduce deaths and injuries that result from accidents,” Moreno said.

On Friday, CHP Madera responded to another fatal crash on Highway 41 near Children’s Boulevard.

Investigators say a car crashed into the back of another vehicle while they were stopped in traffic.

This created a chain collision. The driver, believed to be the culprit, was taken to hospital, where he later died.

After years of fighting for safer streets, Balch hopes people understand the importance of following traffic rules.

“Is that speed worth it to confront someone and kill yourself or someone else? You could have killed me. You could have killed someone’s mother, wife and daughter, and for nothing,” Balch said.

The grant money is expected to last until September 2025.

CHP Madera says they will likely look for new grant opportunities once this resource is exhausted.

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