On Friday, June 18th, 2021, at approximately 5:30 am, the California Highway Patrol received a call of an injury vehicle collision southbound State Route 99 just south of W Taylor Rd. The caller reported that they had located a vehicle on its roof in an orchard just west of the freeway that appeared to have driven off the freeway. California Highway Patrol officers responded along with American Medical Response and the Turlock Fire Department’s Battalion 4, Squad 32, Engine 33, and Engine 34.
When crews arrived on scene, they located a Ford sedan rolled over on its roof in an orchard with one patient trapped. Upon freeing that patient, he was immediately declared deceased. His identity is currently not being released, pending next of kin notification, however, we do know that he is a 40 year old male of Dinuba.
The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of the vehicle was traveling southbound on State Route 99 just south of W Taylor Rd, when for an unknown reason, he allowed his vehicle to veer to the right, leaving the west edge of the road. The vehicle continued in a southwesterly direction, entered a dirt ditch, and traveled through a barbed wire fence. The vehicle then overturned and came to rest on its roof.
The driver was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision. It is unknown at this time if alcohol, drugs, or speeds were a contributing factor in the collision. The investigation remains on-going. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Brandon Whittemore at 209-545-7440 or by email at BWhittemore@chp.ca.gov.
