Trump administration sues Selma farm employer after 2024 crash killed 7 farmworkers

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) — The Trump Administration is suing a local employer in connection with a fatal crash last year that killed seven farm workers. 

The crash happened on Feb. 23 of 2024. The California Highway Patrol said a van carrying eight workers was traveling West on Avenue 7 in Madera on the way to a work site.

A pick-up truck swerved into them from the opposite side of the road.

The driver of the truck and seven of the eight workers died at the scene.

CHP says six of the workers were not wearing seat belts.

YourCentralValley.com obtained a copy of the suit that claims that Selma-based Lion Farms failed to “Assure necessary protections for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers by enforcing, among other things, vehicle safety standards, registration and licensing requirements.”

A local immigration attorney, George Rios weighed in on the tragedy.

 “The biggest reason why this is getting so much attention is because of the way that everything occurred and the fact that it was so shocking and tragic,” Rios said.

Rios says that ag workers deserve safe transportation to and from the work site.

“They’re paying for you to provide them with safe transportation,” Rios said.

The suit also alleges the vehicle used to transport the workers did not have the minimum liability insurance coverage.

“The government is going to try to hold, at the very least in this instance, the employer accountable for failing to comply with federal law specifically and providing safe transportation for their employees,” Rios said.

The suit also alleges possible financial irregularities.

“It goes beyond just providing safe transportation and actually involves issues of potentially failing to pay their employees the wages, fair wages that they had earned,” Rios said.

Rios says he has seen instances in the past where workers were afraid to speak up in potentially hazardous situations.

“And if they choose to fight for what is their rights, they will be replaced,” Rios said.

All of the workers killed were from Mexico.