Wrong-way driver dies in crash east of Modesto

A 55-year-old Waterford man who was driving down the middle of a country road Thursday night died when he crashed head with another driver east of Modesto.

William Dean Freeman was driving a Dodge pickup west on Milnes Road, straddling the double yellow line east of Albers Road just before 7 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

Cody Wade Corbiser, 26, of Modesto, was driving a Ford F-550 in the opposite direction on Milnes when he spotted the Dodge in the middle of the road.

At that point Freeman allowed his Dodge to travel completely into Corbiser’s lane, according to the CHP.

Corbiser turned left into the westbound lane to avoid hitting the Dodge but Freeman also turned into the lane and the two trucks crashed head on in the north dirt shoulder.

Freeman was wearing a seat belt and was pinned inside his car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Corbiser was also wearing a seat belt and survived unscathed.

It is unknown if drugs or alcohol contributed to the collision.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 1:49 PM with the headline "Wrong-way driver dies in crash east of Modesto."