Local News

MHS Graduate Dies in Traffic Collision

MADERA - A former Madera High School football player was killed Thursday afternoon while riding his bicycle on Road 25 at Avenue 12. Hanford truck driver Robert Banuelos (49) was traveling westbound on Avenue 12 at approximately 50 miles per hour when he struck Jacob T. Leasure (19).

According to California Highway Patrol reports, Leasure entered Avenue 12 southbound from the north side of the roadway just west of Road 25 directly in the path of the Freightliner driven by Banuelos. The truck driver attempted to avoid the collision but with oncoming traffic was forced to swerve back into the southbound lane. The read of Banuelos's trailer struck Leasure who suffered fatal injuries as a result of the collision.

Jacob attended local schools and was a graduate of Madera High School class of 2012. Jacob just completed his freshman year of college at Fresno State University where he was proud to be a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He was currently working at the Van's Store at Fashion Fair.

Jacob spent much of his free time at the family ranch in Coarsegold; target shooting, fishing and just enjoying the outdoors. The ranch was his favorite place to go with his Dad. Jacob also enjoyed many sports; whether it was playing football for Madera High, church league basketball or just shooting hoops in the driveway with the neighbor kids. Jacob enjoyed playing his guitar with the youth Worship Band at the Fourth Street Church of God in Madera where he also attended.

Alcohol does not appear to have played a factor at this time but the collision is still under investigation.