Patterson man dies in crash on Las Palmas Avenue

A 60-year-old Patterson man died in a rear-end collision on Las Palmas Avenue Tuesday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.

At about 6 p.m., Efrain Torrez was driving a Toyota pickup west on Las Palmas, east of Sycamore Avenue, in front of a Toyota Camry driven by 22-year-old Kish Malapingan, of Patterson.

For unknown reasons, Torrez rapidly slowed the pickup, according to the CHP. Malapingan braked but couldn’t avoid rear-ending the pickup.

The pickup rotated clockwise and traveled off the roadway onto the dirt shoulder, where the driver side struck a tree.

Torrez died at the scene, according to the CHP. Malapingan was not injured.

Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash, according to the CHP.

Anyone with information about the crash can call the CHP at (209) 545-7440.

This story was originally published July 26, 2023 at 9:44 AM.

Erin Tracy

The Modesto Bee

209-578-2366

Erin Tracy covers criminal justice and breaking news. She began working at the Modesto Bee in 2010 and previously worked at papers in Woodland and Eureka. She is a graduate of Humboldt State University.