A high-speed crash involving three vehicles left one person dead and seven others injured on a rural Stanislaus County road Saturday night, with alcohol believed to be a contributing factor, the California Highway Patrol said.
The crash unfolded around 9:30 p.m. on Ladd Road east of Tully Road, near the community of Del Rio. CHP investigators determined that a 2026 Porsche coupe traveling westbound at excessive speed struck a 2016 Ram pickup truck from behind. The Ram, which was carrying six people including two teenagers and a child, was forced off the road and overturned as a result of the impact. The Porsche then veered into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with a 2023 Mercedes SUV before catching fire. The blaze prompted a multi-hour closure of the roadway.
The driver of the Porsche was pronounced dead at the scene. Jon Burgess, 38, of Manteca, a passenger in the Porsche, was airlifted or transported to a hospital with major injuries. Two people inside the Mercedes also sustained major injuries and received hospital care. The remaining occupants of the Ram and Mercedes reported minor injuries.
CHP has not released the identity of the Porsche's deceased driver or disclosed whether any charges are expected. Investigators confirmed alcohol is suspected as a factor in the crash, and the inquiry remains active. The identities of the other injured parties have not been made public.
The crash drew significant emergency response to the stretch of Ladd Road, a rural two-lane corridor east of Modesto that connects residential agricultural areas of Stanislaus County. No additional updates were available at the time of this report.