By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Man killed running stop sign
• Fatality at Service & Ustick roads
ceres fatal.jpg
Modesto Firefighters were at the scene of a fatal collision at Service and Ustick roads on Saturday evening. Driver Rigoberto Alvarez died in this Honda. - photo by Contributed

The running of a stop sign resulted in the death of the responsible driver Saturday evening at a rural intersection west of Ceres.

Rigoberto Alvarez, 29, of Ceres, was killed in the crash just before 5:30 p.m.

Ceres Police said the impact with a car driven by Faye Beard, 78, of Modesto, sent her to the hospital with major injuries.

The crash occurred when Alvarez was driving southbound on Ustick Road and failed to stop for a posted stop sign at Service Road. As Alvarez’s 2003 Honda Civic entered the intersection it was struck by Beard’s 2005 Kia Sportage which was traveling westbound on Service Road. The Kia crashed into the driver’s side of the Civic. Alvarez was declared dead at the scene.

Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors, said police. The crash is being investigated by the Ceres Police Department’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT). An autopsy will provide answers as to Alvarez’s health leading up to the crash. 

Those who may have witnessed the crash or have any information on what led up to the crash are asked to call Ceres Police Officer Jerry Kessler at 538-5620.