Three people killed in crash identified as Patterson family
The three people killed in a crash west of Patterson on Monday afternoon have been identified as a couple and their adult son.
Maria Cruz Alvarez, 58, Armando Vega, 56, and their son, Jesus Vega-Cruz, 26, all of Patterson, died in the collision at the intersection of Orange and Elm avenues.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Mario Estrada, 20, of Crows Landing was driving east on Orange in a Ram pickup when he failed to yield the right of way to the family’s Dodge SUV, which was southbound on Elm.
Traffic on Orange has a stop sign at the intersection, while traffic on Elm does not.
The Ram traveled directly into the path of the Dodge and the front of the Dodge hit the left side of the Ram, according to the CHP. Both vehicles proceeded off the roadway on the southeast side of the intersection and overturned onto their left sides.
Alvarez, Vega and Vega-Cruz all were pronounced dead at the scene.
Estrada and his passenger were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
A CHP spokesperson said it is likely Estrada ran the stop sign but the collision remains under investigation.
This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 11:41 AM.
