Four dead in traffic collision on McHenry north of Modesto, CHP says. What we know
Four people were killed in a four-vehicle collision on McHenry Avenue north of Modesto on Tuesday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash happened at about 4 p.m. near the intersection of McHenry and Hogue Road in the Del Rio community. The names of the four killed had not been released as of 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Those killed were described as a 60-year-old Linden woman, a 22-year-old Merced man, a 19-year-old Merced woman and a 1-year-old girl listed in a CHP news release as a Turlock resident.
Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and found four vehicles with collision damage: a 2004 Mitsubishi, a 2019 Toyota, a 2001 Ford and a 2014 Ram.
The occupants of the Mitsubishi, the 19-year-old driver and the 22-year-old passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of the Toyota, the 60-year-old and the 1-year-old, were taken by ambulance and pronounced dead at Medical Memorial Center.
“Our preliminary investigation indicates the driver of the Mitsubishi sedan was traveling northbound on McHenry Avenue, just north of Hogue Road, in the number one lane. For unknown reasons at this time, the driver allowed the Mitsubishi to enter the number two lane before reentering the number one lane,” reads the CHP’s release. “The Mitsubishi entered the southbound number one lane, directly toward a Toyota SUV. A head-on collision occurred.”
The Ford was heading south on McHenry in the number two lane when it struck the Mitsubishi and the Toyota. The Ram was driving in the number one lane, also south on McHenry, when it struck the Mitsubishi. Besides those killed, no one else was injured in the collision, according to the release.
It was unknown as of Wednesday morning if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision.
“We’re still trying to figure out the contributing factors,” CHP Modesto office spokesman Officer Tom Olsen told The Bee late Wednesday morning. “All we have right now is that the (Mitsubishi) vehicle made a sharp turn to the left, directly into the path of the other vehicles.”
McHenry Avenue, between Ladd Road and the San Joaquin County Line, was temporarily closed. Detours were put in place for motorists during the closure.
This story was originally published April 10, 2024 at 8:23 AM.
