A collision between a white Jeep and a red sedan left one person dead and shut down State Route 120 in both directions at French Camp Road early Monday morning, just east of Manteca. The crash happened around 7:50 a.m. near railroad tracks that run alongside the highway, according to California Highway Patrol logs.
Caltrans closed the highway in both directions at French Camp Road and had not given an estimated reopening time as of Monday afternoon, according to CBS Sacramento. Further details about the crash, including the identities of those involved and what led up to the collision, were not immediately available.
Highway 120 and French Camp Road
This stretch of Highway 120 meets French Camp Road at an angle east of Manteca. In January 2023, a pedestrian was struck and killed in a predawn hit-and-run near this same intersection, as reported by CBS News. California Highway Patrol officers at the time located vehicle debris at the scene while trying to identify the driver who fled.
Three years before that, in February 2020, a 60-year-old driver was killed in a three-vehicle crash involving a big rig, an SUV, and a sedan at the same junction, CBS News reported.
Railroad Tracks Near the Crossing
French Camp Road meets Highway 120 at an angle beside railroad tracks.
A $7.6 million safety project is intended to reduce broadside collisions at the Highway 120 and French Camp Road junction.
Highway 120 Traffic
Highway 120 is a busy route that connects with State Route 99.
Manteca Road-Safety Plans
Manteca's Local Roadway Safety Plan and Active Transportation Plan focus on road safety, Hoodline reported. Such plans can also help San Joaquin County municipalities secure grant funding for targeted road redesigns.
Monday's fatality adds to a difficult stretch for traffic safety in the Manteca area. The crash follows another recent fatal collision in the region: a hit-and-run that killed a 73-year-old Manteca woman near West Lathrop Road and Fifth Street last month. No further details on Monday's crash, including what caused the Jeep and sedan to collide, had been released as of Monday afternoon.
