Update: Two women critically hurt in Oakdale Road crash, one of them is arrested
The driver in a crash Saturday night on Oakdale Road just outside Modesto that injured her and her passenger was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Jessica Hernandez, a 23-year-old Sunnyvale resident, suffered moderate injuries in the crash and was placed under arrest on a felony DUI charge, CHP Officer John Nava said Sunday afternoon. Passenger Arglia Rodriguez, also 23, suffered major injuries including a broken ankle, Nava said.
The crash occurred about 11:40 p.m. between Claratina Avenue and Claribel Road. Emergency crews arrived to find the car on its roof in an orchard, with both women trapped inside. Neither was wearing a seat belt, Nava said.
Battalion Chief Darin Jesberg said one of the victims had suffered head trauma and was unresponsive. Nava said that was Hernandez, who later was determined not to have suffered major injury. Her lack of response may have been due to intoxication, he said.
After being extricated, both women received treatment at the scene and on the way to area hospitals, Jesberg said.
Both the California Highway Patrol and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.
Witness Simeon Prasad said he was driving on Oakdale toward Claratina with a vehicle in front of him and one behind. The driver in back tried to pass but pulled into the path of an oncoming vehicle, he said in an email to The Bee.
“The driver then jerked the wheel to get in the proper lane and dodge the oncoming vehicle, but ended up losing control and drove into the orchard, where it wrecked,” he said.
He, the driver ahead and the driver of the oncoming vehicle all pulled over to be of help, Prasad said. He called 911 and “police, firefighters and ambulance were on scene very quickly.”
This story was originally published November 8, 2020 at 9:09 AM.
