Alcohol believed to be cause of deadly crash on Highway 41 in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A 21-year-old driver is dead after losing control of his vehicle and crashing up an embankment in northeast Fresno on Tuesday morning.

It happened around 2 a.m. on southbound Highway 41 just north of Shaw Avenue.

California Highway Patrol officers say the driver, identified as 21-year-old Alexander Rivera, lost control of the Nissan and overturned on the right side of the freeway.

Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three 18-year-old passengers inside the car suffered minor injuries and were taken to Community Regional Medical Center.

CHP officials believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Traffic on all three southbound lanes was blocked for about an hour, but has since reopened.