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

The agency recently received $130,000 in grant money 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 safer in Madera County since her 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 was going to make sure I fought,” said Balch said.

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

“As they were driving me to safety the first place, the car exploded in front of me,” Balch said.

The Madera Regional Office of the California Highway Patrol says that in addition to fatal crashes, more than 2,600 people have been injured due to car collisions.

“It’s very heartbreaking, as we said earlier, it’s 100% preventable,” said Sergio Moreno, spokesperson for the CHP Madera.

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

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

“This grant will not only allow us to deploy additional officers to conduct patrols, but also reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from accidents,” Moreno said.

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

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

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

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

“Is it worth confronting someone head-on and killing yourself or someone else? You could have killed me. It could have killed the mother, the wife, the daughter of someone, and for nothing,” Balch said.

The grant 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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