Modesto Police Department News Release

SOLO VEHICLE COLLISION LEAVES TWO DEAD

Modesto, CA – Two adults are dead after an early morning collision.  Investigators believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.

At about 1:20 am today police were dispatched to a major injury collision on the Carpenter Road Overpass adjacent to Highway 99.  When they arrived they found a vehicle that was near the bottom of the embankment on the north side of the overpass.

A 22-year-old woman was ejected from the car during the collision and two other adults were trapped inside the wreckage of the 1998 2-door Ford Escort.  The driver, a 25-year-old woman, and the front passenger, a 25-year-old man, were pronounced dead by the responding paramedics.  The woman who was ejected was transported to a local hospital to be treated for a broken leg and other non-life threatening injuries.  All of the vehicle’s occupants are believed to be Oakdale residents.  It appears that only the 25-year-old driver was wearing a seatbelt.

The Modesto Police Department Traffic Unit was called to the scene to investigate.  The preliminary investigation seems to suggest that the 25-year-old woman was driving northbound on North 9^th Street prior to the collision.  North 9^th Street ends at the top of the Carpenter Road overpass and northbound traffic is controlled by a stop sign.  Investigators are trying to determine why the driver continued through the intersection and down the embankment, however alcohol appears to have been a factor in the collision.

Police ask anyone with information about the collision to call the Modesto Police Department at (209) 572-9500 and ask for Officer Nathaniel Kutcher.  Tipsters can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636.  Tipsters can also text information to Crime Stoppers by sending a text message to 274637. Just type “TIP704” along with your message.

For further information regarding this press release please contact Sergeant Brian Findlen at (209) 652-1386.