Modesto man who died in fiery, multi-vehicle crash near Sonora identified
The California Highway Patrol has identified a Modesto man who died Oct. 18 in a fiery, five-vehicle crash near Sonora that began when he tried using the shoulder of the highway to pass another driver.
The deceased, 60-year-old Marcial Sanchez, was driving east around 5:30 p.m. on Highway 108, near Sanguinetti Road, in a 2015 Toyota Tacoma pickup, the Union Democrat first reported.
As he approached a 2007 Chevy Avalanche also traveling east, Sanchez drove into the right shoulder of the road in an attempt to pass the Chevy.
The Chevy driver tried moving to the left but was hit by the Toyota and pushed into the westbound lane.
The Chevy collided with a 2007 Dodge pickup towing a trailer in the westbound lane, then drove off the north edge of the highway, traveling down the embankment until it struck a boulder.
After being struck, the Dodge driver kept control of the vehicle and stopped in the westbound lane.
The Toyota was also sent into the westbound lane, first striking the front of 2009 Subaru Forester. The driver lost control of the Subaru and it also drove off the north edge of the roadway, rolled over down the embankment and landed on its roof.
The Toyota also struck a 1994 GMC Suburban driven by a Modesto man who also had a 7-year-old passenger.
After that, the Toyota caught fire with Sanchez trapped inside.
A witness helped the Modesto man and the 7-year-old leave their vehicle before it also caught fire. They, along with the Subaru driver, were taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
The Chevy driver also suffered minor injuries but was not hospitalized, according to CHP. The Dodge driver was uninjured.
It was unclear as of Oct. 19 if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision, according to the Union Democrat.
