Two people killed in crash on Highway 108 east of Oakdale, CHP reports

Two people were killed in a traffic collision on Highway 108 east of Oakdale on Thursday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. One has been identified as a Modesto man, age 67, and the other as a Newark man, 85. Their names have not been released, pending notification of family.

The wreck, which was reported at 6:54 a.m., occurred at the intersection of the highway and Atlas Road, according to the CHP.

Spokesman Thomas Olsen said the Modesto man, driving a red Pontiac GTO, was heading east on Highway 108 approaching Atlas when, for an unknown reason, the car left the road.

The driver lost control and the car spun counterclockwise into the westbound lane, directly into the path of a westbound Nissan Sentra.

The two drivers were the only ones in their vehicles, and both died at the scene. The driver of the Pontiac was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the Nissan was not, Olsen said.

The Pontiac was torn in two by the impact, and the back end came to rest in a landscaped area on the north side of Highway 108, just yards west of Atlas Road.

Olsen said that although the Nissan sustained major front-end damage, intrusion into the passenger compartment was minimal. Had the driver been wearing a seat belt, he may have survived, Olsen said.

The driver of the Nissan remained in his car at the time Coroner’s Office deputies arrived on scene. Responders had to cut the seat belt of the Pontiac to remove its driver, whose body was placed in an ambulance.

The highway temporarily was closed, with the CHP and Oakdale police detouring traffic. But at 8:40 a.m., Olsen reported, “Caltrans is on the scene directing traffic through the area with minimal delay to motorists.” And shortly before 10, he said the roadway had reopened.

This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 7:52 AM.