Fresno State student killed in crash was former FCC student

A Fresno State graduate student killed Sunday in a vehicle accident on Highway 99 was identified Tuesday by the Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s office as Mireyda Barraza Martinez.

Martinez, 29, is a former Rampage reporter and Fresno City College tutor, helping with the Peer Assisted Student Sessions at the college. Coordinator Jennifer Dorian revealed Martinez’s contribution to the program in an email Tuesday, saying “She is a major pillar of our community and at CSUF.”

Fresno State on Tuesday released a statement announcing Martinez’s sudden death. Martinez was attending the university and was a poetry student in the Masters of Fine Arts Creative Writing program. She also taught the English 41 poetry writing workshop, the university said.

Martinez was further described by the masters program as a “smart, strong and good-hearted person and a gifted poet.”

Service arrangements for Martinez have not yet been arranged.

The Fresno Bee reported Martinez was headed north on Highway 99 in a 1997 Acura around 7 p.m. Sunday when she lost control of the car. When the Acura crossed traffic lanes, she was broadsided by a 2008 Chevrolet. It was raining at the time of the crash. The Bee reports Martinez was from Porterville and a daughter to farmworkers.

The university said they “love her, and we will deeply miss her.”

This story will be updated.