A tragic event unfolded near Escalon last Sunday night, as a man and two children were killed in a suspected DUI-related head-on crash. According to KCRA, the incident occurred approximately at 9:20 p.m. along Mariposa Road, west of Dodds Road.
A gray Ford SUV, which was traveling eastbound on Mariposa Road, veered into the opposite lane, leading to a collision with a silver Hyundai sedan driving in the opposite direction. In the Hyundai, with their mother as the driver, a man and three minors were traveling. Sadly, the man in the Hyundai's front passenger seat died at the scene, as reported by ABC10.
The tragic aftermath saw the death of two of the children, aged 4 and 2, who were pronounced dead after being transported to San Joaquin General Hospital. The California Highway Patrol confirmed that the sole survivor among the minors, a 1-year-old, has sustained major injuries. The mother is also being treated for major injuries.
According to officials, the driver of the SUV was sent to Modesto Memorial Hospital with injuries described as moderate and subsequently arrested on suspicion of DUI. Surviving the same crash that claimed three lives, with two children taken to the hospital unresponsive, the SUV's driver now finds themself in police custody. The names of those involved have not been disclosed by authorities as per the latest updates. The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash.
