Valley Springs man killed, 3 others seriously injured in north Modesto crash

A Valley Springs man was killed and three others suffered major injuries in a crash in north Modesto on Friday night.

The female driver of a Honda Civic was traveling west on Pelandale Avenue approaching Dale Road at a high speed when she side-swiped another vehicle and lost control just before 11 p.m., said Modesto Police Sgt. Patrick Kimes.

The Honda veered northeast then crashed into a tree about 100 feet off the roadway in the northeast corner of the intersection.

Kimes said the front seat passenger, identified as 22-year-old Valley Springs resident Trevor Saltzman, was killed instantly.

The Honda caught fire and officers who were the first to arrive on scene used fire extinguishers to put it out.

Modesto firefighters arrived next and had to remove a door to free the driver who was trapped inside, said Modesto Fire Department Battalion Chief Randy Anderson. There was a male and female passenger in the backseat.

The three who survived were taken to area hospitals with major injuries. Two are listed in critical condition and the other in serious condition, Kimes said. He didn’t have the names of the injured but said they range in age from 19 to 23 and are also from out of the area.

No one in the vehicle that was side-swiped was injured.

The Modesto Police Department’s traffic unit is investigating the collision and all potential causes but Kimes said speed was certainly a factor. Just how fast the Honda was traveling remains under investigation but Kimes said it was “well above” the posted speed limit of 50 mph.

This story was originally published May 6, 2017 at 8:48 AM with the headline "Valley Springs man killed, 3 others seriously injured in north Modesto crash."