Two women were tragically killed in a weekend accident involving a stop sign violation northeast of Modesto. The accident occurred between Riverbank and Oakdale in rural Stanislaus County on Saturday afternoon around 2:25 p.m.
The Modesto Bee reported the accident occurred at the intersection of Patterson Road and Bentley Road on March 12, 2022. The California Highway Patrol says a 56-year-old Modesto woman was driving a 2007 Honda northbound on Bentley when she failed to stop for a stop sign. The Honda pulled into the path of a 2018 Chevy driven by a 45-year-old man from Waterford traveling eastbound on Patterson.
The Honda struck the passenger side of the Chevy. Both vehicles went out of control and struck a Volkswagen driven by a 31-year-old woman from Modesto. The Volkswagen overturned in the impact.
The female drivers of the Honda and Volkswagen both died at the scene. The driver of the Chevy and a passenger in the Volkswagen, a 31-year-old woman from Modesto, were both rushed to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto.
California Highway Patrol investigators continue to work to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Stop Sign Accident Dangers in Stanislaus County
Approaching a stop sign in rural Stanislaus County means having to trust that everyone else at that intersection is obeying the right-of-way. When one person doesn’t do as expected and as required by law, other drivers won’t likely have the time or room to avoid a devastating collision.
These accidents involving intersections and a failure to yield the right-of-way end up hurting hundreds of people in Modesto and Stanislaus County each year. California traffic officials documented 349 collisions in the county in 2020 involving a traffic light or stop sign violation. 573 people were injured in those accidents and a tragic 5 lives were claimed.
These accidents are preventable and only require that more care be taken by drivers. Drivers need to be focused on the lanes and be sure to look in every direction before entering any road or highway. This basic care shown can prevent accidents and the tragedies that affect families and all communities across Stanislaus County.
A word about accident support for victims and families in Stanislaus County…
Injured victims and families who have lost a loved one are encouraged to seek financial assistance through a claim for damages or a wrongful death insurance claim.
This support from an at-fault driver’s insurance provider could help a family with funeral and burial costs and replace the financial support the deceased can no longer provide. Victims can earn money to help with hospital bills and their lost time at work. You can read more about these claims on my page about Stanislaus County car accidents.
