A Delhi man was killed Monday afternoon when the sports car he was riding in spun out and crashed into an oncoming vehicle on Crowlanding Road just south of Service Road.
According to California Highway Patrol spokesman Eric Parsons, the crash occurred at 2:18 p.m. when a southbound red Honda S2000 sports car lost control on the rain-slickened road and hit a white Chevy Silverado. The driver of the Honda, Arnoldo Chavez, 22, of Modesto, sustained life-threatening injuries. Chavez was in critical condition at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto as of Tuesday morning.
His passenger, Saul Avalos Jr., 20, of Delhi, was killed instantly.
"The cause is under investigation but it appears it was due to unsafe speed for wet conditions," said Parsons.
Troy Delgado, 29, of Turlock, the driver of the northbound Silverado, sustained only minor injuries. He refused medical treatment.
The preliminary investigation indicates that Chavez may have sped up to pass slower moving vehicles to his right as the two southbound lanes narrow down to one lane. The Honda spun around, traveling backwards into the northbound lanes, and struck the front of the Silverado, tearing up the back of the sports car. Parsons said officers believe both vehicles were traveling between 45 and 50 mph at the time of impact. The wrecked Honda came to rest in a dirt field just east of Crows Landing Road. Its rear bumper was lying on the road near the pickup.
Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the crash, Parsons said.
The CHP was made aware of a yard surveillance video that may have inadvertently captured images of the crash. The video was in CHP possession on Tuesday but not yet viewed. The crash occurred directly in front of United Pallet Company on Crows Landing Road.
The traffic death was the first investigated in 2009 by the Modesto office of the CHP.
According to California Highway Patrol spokesman Eric Parsons, the crash occurred at 2:18 p.m. when a southbound red Honda S2000 sports car lost control on the rain-slickened road and hit a white Chevy Silverado. The driver of the Honda, Arnoldo Chavez, 22, of Modesto, sustained life-threatening injuries. Chavez was in critical condition at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto as of Tuesday morning.
His passenger, Saul Avalos Jr., 20, of Delhi, was killed instantly.
"The cause is under investigation but it appears it was due to unsafe speed for wet conditions," said Parsons.
Troy Delgado, 29, of Turlock, the driver of the northbound Silverado, sustained only minor injuries. He refused medical treatment.
The preliminary investigation indicates that Chavez may have sped up to pass slower moving vehicles to his right as the two southbound lanes narrow down to one lane. The Honda spun around, traveling backwards into the northbound lanes, and struck the front of the Silverado, tearing up the back of the sports car. Parsons said officers believe both vehicles were traveling between 45 and 50 mph at the time of impact. The wrecked Honda came to rest in a dirt field just east of Crows Landing Road. Its rear bumper was lying on the road near the pickup.
Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the crash, Parsons said.
The CHP was made aware of a yard surveillance video that may have inadvertently captured images of the crash. The video was in CHP possession on Tuesday but not yet viewed. The crash occurred directly in front of United Pallet Company on Crows Landing Road.
The traffic death was the first investigated in 2009 by the Modesto office of the CHP.
