On Thursday, September 16th, 2021, at 6:32 am, the California Highway Patrol, Denair Fire Protection District, Keyes Fire Protection District, Turlock Rural Fire Protection District, and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported vehicle collision with injuries on Santa Fe Ave just south of E Monte Vista Ave, Denair.
When crews arrived on scene, they located three vehicles involved. One was a Subaru SUV, one was a Toyota sedan, and the other was a Nissan SUV.
The driver of the Subaru SUV, Kenneth Williams, 63, of Modesto, who was its only occupant, suffered major injuries and was ground transported by American Medical Response to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the Toyota sedan, Trinidad Magana, 62, of Hughson, who was its only occupant, was airlifted by PHI Air Medical Services to a local hospital with major injuries. The driver of the Nissan SUV, Ricardo Gallegos, 48, of Modesto, who was its only occupant, was uninjured.
Officers began their investigation and determined that Williams was traveling northbound, while Magana was traveling southbound with Gallegos right behind him. Williams attempted to pass a vehicle that was in front of him by crossing into the southbound lane, when he collided head-on with Magana. The collision then pushed Magana’s vehicle back and caused it to collide with the front of Gallegos’ vehicle.
It is currently unknown if alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor in this collision. All vehicles involved sustained major damage and were deemed inoperable as a result of the collision, which required them to be towed away from the scene.
Santa Fe Ave was temporarily closed between E Monte Vista Avenue and N Vincent Rd while officers were on scene investigating.
The California Highway Patrol would like to remind all motorists when safe to do so. The consequences of not doing so could be deadly, as seen in this example. The California Highway Patrol would also like to remind all motorists that the speed limit on a two-lane undivided highway is 55 miles per hour, unless otherwise indicated.
