Fatal rear-end collision on I-5 outside of Patterson leaves one dead
A two-vehicle crash west of Patterson left one person dead Friday night, according to the California Highway Patrol.
At about 7:20 p.m., a Jeep Wrangler was traveling southbound on Highway 5, north of Sperry Road, behind a Honda Clarity. The CHP reports a 20-year-old female from Sun Valley was driving the Jeep going about 70 mph, with a 22-year-old male passenger from Valencia in the car with her. The Honda was being driven by a 40-year-old female with a 41-year-old male passenger, both from Lodi.
The driver of the Honda slowed when she noticed traffic ahead had rapidly slowed to nearly a stop, according to the CHP report. But the driver of the Jeep allegedly failed to noticed the traffic slowdown and rear-ended the Honda.
The CHP report says both vehicles then veered to the left into the dirt median and the left sides of both the Jeep and Honda struck the center divide safety cables.
The male passenger in the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene. The identities of the victim and drivers have not been released, pending notification. The cause of the collision is under investigation, and no arrests have been made. Drugs or alcohol are not considered a factor.
