Two recent traffic collisions resulted in death by ejection, one outside Modesto
In separate crashes Saturday and Tuesday — one just outside Modesto, the other in Sonora — two people were ejected from their vehicles and died, authorities said. Neither was wearing a seat belt.
Saturday, a driver was killed when her Chevrolet Trailblazer struck an embankment and overturned on Rawhide Road north of Ramrock Road in Sonora. Delores Natalia, 66, died of her injuries at the scene, despite lifesaving efforts by emergency personnel, according to a California Highway Patrol release.
Natalia was driving with a 91-year-old passenger who survived the crash with moderate injuries. The passenger was treated at Adventist Health.
The crash is still under investigation. It has not been determined if drugs or alcohol were factors.
Early Tuesday, a 32-year-old Denair man was killed in a traffic collision in the intersection of Yosemite Boulevard and Geer Road between Empire and Waterford. The man was thrown from his Ford sedan after colliding with a Ford SUV.
CHP officers were made aware of the collision at about 1:40 a.m. and found the Ford sedan on the right shoulder, pinned against a parking lot wall at a gas station — with the Denair man lying on the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Ford SUV involved was found in the parking lot as well, with “major right-ride side damage,” according to a CHP release. The driver was taken to Doctors Medical Center with minor injuries.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the Denair man, who appeared to have not been wearing his seat belt, failed to stop at the red light and entered the intersection, striking the SUV, according to Officer Tom Olsen.
His identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. It’s unknown if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision.
