Man dies after stepping into path of semi-truck on Highway 99 in Keyes area
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A man died Monday morning after stepping into the path of a semi-truck on Highway 99 just north of Keyes, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash happened around 9:30 a.m. in the northbound lanes near Keyes Road. CHP officials said a 2022 Freightliner driven by a 48-year-old man from Moreno Valley was traveling in the slow lane when it approached an Acura coupe parked on the right shoulder.
Hector Lucatero, 32, of Turlock, exited the driver’s side of the Acura and walked directly into the slow lane, where he was struck by the Freightliner, the CHP said. The impact threw him back onto the right shoulder. Emergency personnel responded and took Lucatero to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, where he died from his injuries.
The Freightliner driver stopped immediately after the collision and remained at the scene, authorities said.
“We’re going to try to determine what caused this individual to get out of the vehicle and step in front of that big rig,” said Officer Tom Olsen of California Highway Patrol. “Whether or not this was an intentional act — that’s something we always have to look into.”
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM.
