Friday, Jul. 11, 2008

Law & Order

CAR SPINS 'LIKE A TOP' AFTER COLLISION: Traffic was rerouted for about an hour Thursday afternoon in downtown Modesto after a 2005 Toyota Camry rolled over on its side and "spun like a top" after colliding with another car, according to police. The traffic collision occurred shortly before 1 p.m. at 14th and J streets. Susana Nieto, 21, of Modesto, was driving the Camry west on J and attempted a left turn onto southbound 14th. Modesto police officer Nathan Kutcher said the Camry, shown at right, turned into the path of a 2008 Lexus, and the impact forced the Camry to roll onto its driver's side and spin. Charla West, 59, of Oakdale was driving the Lexus. Kutcher said neither driver was injured. Police closed 14th between J and I streets until traffic officers cleared the crash about 2 p.m.

RED LIGHT RUNNER CAUSES CRASH: Three vehicles collided Thursday afternoon after one of the drivers ran a red light on McHenry Avenue near the Safeway shopping center just north of Briggsmore Avenue in Modesto, a police spokesman said. Modesto police Sgt. Craig Gundlach said nobody was seriously injured in the crash, which occurred at 12:05 p.m. at McHenry and Tokay avenues. Aaron Sanchez, 20, of Modesto, was driving a 2006 Volkswagen with an 18-year-old woman in the passenger seat. Gundlach said Sanchez was driving the north on McHenry and ran the red light at Tokay. He said the Volkswagen collided with a 2000 Ford Explorer heading east out of the shopping center across McHenry. The impact forced the Explorer into a spin before it rolled over onto its driver's side and collided with a 1990 Toyota Camry waiting on Tokay to travel west across McHenry into the shopping center, Gundlach said. Marjorie Vieths, 66, of Modesto, was driving the Explorer with a 7-year-old girl in a passenger seat. Silvia Dominguez, 48, of Ceres, was driving the Camry. Gundlach said Sanchez and Vieths suffered scratches and were treated at the scene, but neither was taken to a hospital.