On Saturday, December 24th, 2022, at 12:55 am, the California Highway Patrol, Keyes Fire Protection District, and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported vehicle collision on the southbound State Route 99 off-ramp at E Keyes Rd, Keyes.

When crews arrived on scene, they found a single vehicle involved, a Toyota SUV, which had crashed into a tree and was on fire in the embankment along the off-ramp.

Firefighters quickly began fire attack and were able to get the fire knocked down within twenty minutes of their arrival.

The vehicle had a single occupant, its driver, who was found in the rear portion of the vehicle and later identified as Tyler Klaproth, 40, of Turlock. He had suffered major injuries which he unfortunately succumbed to at the scene.

The vehicle had sustained major damage and was deemed inoperable as a result of the collision and fire, requiring it to be towed away.

Officers began investigating and determined that Klaproth had been traveling southbound on State Route 99 north of E Keyes Rd, when for an unknown reason, he allowed his vehicle to leave the freeway off the west road edge. The vehicle continued in a southerly direction into a dirt and grass area before colliding into a tree, catching fire, and coming to final rest.

It’s currently unknown if alcohol, drugs, or speed were a factor in the collision.

The investigation remains ongoing, anyone with information that could assist in it is encouraged to call Officer Matthew Pender at 209-545-7440.