AUBERRY, Calif. — Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of their own after its Chief Forensic Pathologist died in a collision on Highway 168 on Saturday.
Deputies responded to a collision around 10:00 a.m. Saturday near Highway 168 and Beal Fire Road in Auberry. The stretch of road is known as “The Four Lane”, which is commonly used by travelers visiting the Shaver Lake area. When deputies arrived they learned the Fresno County Coroner Dr. Venu Gopal was driving a Nissan Altima west on Highway 168 when he lost control of his car.
According to FSCO, Dr. Gopal veered off the road and fell 200 feet down the mountainside. The 69-year-old of Clovis was declared dead at the scene.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office released this statement following the death of Dr. Gopal:
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and our community has suffered an enormous loss. Dr. Venu Gopal was an amazing man who performed incredible work during his 30 year career at the Coroner’s Office. He helped provide much needed answers to grieving families and also contributed to delivering justice to loved ones in mourning. We wish to thank Dr. Gopal for his service. He will be greatly missed. God Bless he and his family.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to have played a role in this collision. Investigators reported Dr. Gopal was not wearing a seatbelt.
