Fatal accident closes Highway 108

By Emilie Raguso
eraguso@modbee.com

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SOULSBYVILLE — A fatal head-on collision involving three vehicles, on Highway 108 at Via Este Road, closed the highway this afternoon and left two drivers dead.

The road reopened about 4:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP received a report about 3 p.m. of a Ford Bronco being driven erratically, said Sonora-area CHP spokesman officer Tom Wills.

"Right after we received the call, we got the call of the crash," he said. The accident took place just southwest of Sunshine Camp, which is southwest of Soulsbyville.

The 1992 Bronco, driven by a 64-year-old Sonora woman heading east, drifted into oncoming traffic, narrowly missing a man driving west, Wills said. The man avoided the Bronco by swerving out of the way.

The woman returned to her lane, then swerved again into the westbound lane and struck a Subaru station wagon head-on.

The Bronco and Subaru spun out, and the Bronco struck a 2006 Toyota Highlander that had been traveling west behind the Subaru. The Toyota's driver, Lenore Gray, 58, of Richmond was not harmed, Wills said.

"All of a sudden, she looks up and sees the Bronco spinning," Wills said. "It was a mess out there. She said she was trying to get out of the way but she didn't know which way the Bronco was going to go."

The Bronco struck Gray's Toyota head-on, and the Toyota stopped in the roadway.

The 64-year-old Sonora woman was flown to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, Wills said, where she was pronounced dead.

The Subaru's driver, a 59-year-old man from Soulsbyville, was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released.

Wills said officials have no information about what may have caused the accident, but that the Bronco had disabled person license plates.

Firefighters removed a husky-type dog from the Bronco. The dog did not appear to be injured and was turned over to animal control officers, Wills said.

"We're not sure if this was a medical episode, or if she was under the influence of something," Wills said. "We're still trying to gather the bits and pieces of this thing and put the whole puzzle together."

For road information, call 800-427-7623.

Bee staff writer Emilie Raguso can be reached at eraguso@modbee.com or 578-2235.

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