Funds to benefit families of sheriff’s sergeant, baker killed in crash near Hughson

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Employee Foundation has established a donation campaign to assist the family of Sgt. Jeremy Fielder, a 20-year department veteran who was killed Friday night in a head-on collision on Santa Fe Avenue near Hughson.

The crash also killed the other driver, 33-year-old baker Vanessa Zamora of Modesto, and badly injured Fielder’s wife, Lora, who was his passenger.

The employee foundation has set a goal of $20,000, and as of Wednesday morning, $1,601 had been raised. A note on the donation page, at sheriffemp.com/donations, says that beyond the Fielder family, the fund will help “families who have suffered a loss of a Sheriff’s Dept. employee or have been affected by a tragic event.”

A Gofundme campaign to cover funeral expenses for Zamora also has been established, and as of Wednesday morning had raised $16,719 of its $20,000 goal. A note on the page says that money beyond what’s needed for the funeral will be used to start a college fund for her 8-year-old son, Milam.

Funeral arrangements for Zamora are being handled by Salas Brothers, and a service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at its funeral chapel, 419 Scenic Drive.

As of Wednesday morning, there was no word on funeral plans for Fielder. Sheriff’s Department spokesman Deputy Raj Singh said he thinks arrangements are pending the recovery of Lora Fielder, who no longer is in intensive care.

The crash occurred just after 8 p.m. Friday as the victims were driving in opposite directions on Santa Fe Avenue south of Leedom Road. Fielder, 43, was going south in a Honda CR-V and Zamora was northbound in a Honda Accord.

As the cars approached each other, the California Highway Patrol determined, Zamora’s Accord left her lane and drove into the oncoming lane, where it collided head-on with Fielder’s CR-V.

Investigators found Zamora’s cellphone in her car and are investigating whether distracted driving may have been a factor, said Officer Eric Parsons, a CHP spokesman.

He also said drugs or alcohol haven’t been ruled out until results of toxicology tests come in.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 8:37 AM with the headline "Funds to benefit families of sheriff’s sergeant, baker killed in crash near Hughson."