A tragic freeway collision near Modesto on Saturday has claimed the lives of a 26-year-old Ceres man and an 11-month-old baby, and left multiple others injured. KCRA reported that the multi-vehicle crash occurred along Highway 132 east of South River Road near Vernalis.
According to a preliminary investigation by the California Highway Patrol, cited by KCRA, the 26-year-old was driving a Honda sedan eastbound on the highway when, for an unknown reason, he partially crossed over double yellow lines. The sedan sideswiped a Honda SUV, which then collided head-on with a Toyota sedan. The events unfolded shortly before 1 p.m., resulting in a chaotic scene that saw a further two vehicles become involved in the incident. The 11-month-old, a passenger in the Toyota sedan, was airlifted with severe injuries to UC Davis Medical Center but did not survive, dying the following day.
An ABC10 report added background information noting that four other people suffered minor injuries in the crash. The multi-car pile-up resulted shortly after the initial head-on impact, with a fourth driver applying brakes to avoid the wreck but ultimately being struck from behind by a fifth driver.
As authorities continued their investigation into the cause of the accident, California Highway Patrol has not confirmed whether drugs or alcohol were contributing factors. As standard procedure to secure the scene and facilitate the arrival of emergency services, Highway 132 was closed between River Road and Gates Road for several hours, reopening around 3:10 p.m, as per CBS 10. California Highway Patrol also used this unfortunate event to remind drivers of the state law requiring children under two to be in a rear-facing car seat— a detail pertinent to the loss of the 11-month old involved in the tragedy.
