Modesto man killed in Highway 120 smash-up

A Modesto man was killed and five others were injured in a six-vehicle crash in Manteca on Monday, when the driver of a big-rig failed to stop in time for traffic.

Deenon Andruss Jones, 37, was driving a 1991 Honda Accord in the slow lane of eastbound Highway 120. The Honda was the fourth in a line of five vehicles involved in the crash that were stopped or slowing for traffic near Main Street just after 5 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver of the big-rig, 25-year-old Majinder Singh, of Turlock, failed to stop in time for traffic and ran into the back of a utility truck that was behind Jones’ Honda.

The impact caused the utility truck to hit the back of the Honda with enough force that it became airborne and landed on its roof.

The big-rig continued forward and ran over the Honda, killing Jones, according to the CHP.

The Honda was pushed forward into the back of a Mercedes, which in turn was pushed into the back of a Chevrolet Sonic, which was pushed into the back of a Chevrolet Traverse. The Mercedes and the Chevrolet Sonic both overturned.

The Honda stopped on the south side of the road where it caught fire, according to the CHP.

The big-rig jackknifed and came to rest on the south side of the roadway. Singh suffered minor injuries.

Several drivers who witnessed the crash stopped to render aid to the injured and some used fire extinguishers to prevent the fire in the Honda from spreading.

The driver of the utility truck, 45-year-old Christopher Henson, of Atwater, was taken to Doctors Medical Center with moderate injuries.

The driver of the Mercedes, 43-year-old Kristin Wilson, of Stockton, and the driver of the Chevrolet Sonic, 24-year-old Melissa Sanchez, of Salida, were taken to Kaiser in Manteca with moderate injuries.

Karla Flores, 31, of Salida suffered minor injures and was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital.

Eastbound Highway 120 was closed for about three hours while CHP officers investigated the crash.

The crash remains under investigation and it is unknown at this time if drugs or alcohol were a factor.

This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Modesto man killed in Highway 120 smash-up."