Modesto Man Dies in High-Speed DUI Crash

The Modesto Bee reports that a 40-year-old Modesto man died in a single-vehicle crash along State Route 49 on Sunday.

In a statement, the California Highway Patrol said the fatal crash happened just after 5:00 p.m. at the roundabout between State Route 49 and 108 Jamestown near People of the Mountain Road.

CHP investigators say that the victim, driving a 2009 GMC Yukon at a high rate of speed, made an unsafe movement to the right. The movement caused him to lose control of his vehicle and crash into a metal light pole. 

The initial impact caused the GMC to roll over multiple times through the traffic circle at the roundabout. During the rollover, the victim was ejected from the SUV. 

First responders and paramedics rushed the Yukon driver to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. Despite all life-saving efforts by doctors and hospital staff, the man died from injuries he sustained in the crash.

Investigators say debris from the rollover struck a northbound Nissan driven by a man. The other driver was taken to Adventist Health Sonora Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

California Highway Patrol, Lt. Commander Destiny Tafoya with the Sonora-area office, told reporters that the roundabout was not a factor in the crash.

The crash is currently under investigation. CHP officers responding to the scene believed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time but were waiting on a toxicology report from the Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office. 

Related Frequently Asked Questions