Modesto man killed in Northern California solo vehicle crash, news outlet reports
A Modesto man was killed in a solo-vehicle crash on Friday morning in Lake County, according to a report published by Lake County News.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as 30-year-old Gabriel Guarchaj-Ajtzalam, according to Lake County News. The Bee had not independently verified his place of residence as of Saturday afternoon.
Guarchaj-Ajtzalam was ejected from the front passenger seat of a white 2003 Chevy Express as it overturned down a steep embankment on Highway 20, east of New Long Valley Road, according to an email sent to Lake County News from Sgt. Joel Skeen of the California Highway Patrol’s Kelseyville office, which was obtained by The Bee.
The initial findings from CHP were that the driver of the Chevy lost control on a downward curve and went down an embankment north of the road near mile postmarker 41, according to the email. The area is about 80 miles northwest of Sacramento.
Two other occupants of the van, who sat unrestrained in the rear, were moderately injured. The driver and the front middle passenger were uninjured. Drugs or alcohol were not suspected to have played a part in the crash, according to Skeen’s email.
Editor and publisher of Lake County News Elizabeth Larson told The Bee she was monitoring a police scanner at the time of the crash and that an air ambulance was sent to the scene. It was unclear if Guarchaj-Ajtzalam died at the scene or at a hospital, Larson said.
The crash was first reported at about 9 a.m., according to Lake County News.
This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM.
