Two die as car crashes into Modesto cemetery entrance

Two people died and a third was badly injured when their car rammed the concrete and rock wall of a cemetery early Saturday morning in Modesto.

At approximately 4:45 a.m., a 1991 Honda Accord traveling east on Scenic Drive near Bodem Street struck the wall that borders the cemetery along the north side of Scenic, Modesto police reported.

Two women suffered major injuries from the crash and were pronounced dead at the scene: driver Jennifer Sengchanh, 21, and passenger Yessica Gonzalez, 24. The damage to the car was so severe the Modesto Fire Department responded to extricate the women.

Another passenger, 25-year-old Tima Him also suffered major injuries. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment and is in stable condition, police said.

The cause of the collision had not been determined and it was unknown if drug or alcohol impairment was a factor, police said. It was the 14th fatal crash in Modesto this year, with 18 people killed.

Two entrance columns to the cemetery grounds were knocked down by the force of the collision. Wrapped bouquets of flowers and half-empty beer containers had been placed by the rubble later in morning.

Yellow caution tape stretched around the area Saturday. Column markers bearing the inscriptions Masonic Cemetery 1835 and Odd Fellows Cemetery 1872 lay on the entrance walkway. The grounds include Modesto Cemetery, Modesto Pioneer Cemetery, Acacia Memorial Park and St. Stanislaus Cemetery.

This story was originally published November 29, 2014 at 12:57 PM with the headline "Two die as car crashes into Modesto cemetery entrance."