[07-23-2024] Stanislaus County, CA – Three People, Including Juveniles, Seriously Injured After Pursuit Led to Single-Vehicle Crash in Ceres

Three people, including juveniles, were seriously injured after a pursuit led to a single-vehicle crash in Ceres early Tuesday morning, July 23, 2024.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the incident happened around 3:30 a.m. at the Mitchell Road off-ramp from Highway 99.

CHP said they tried to stop a black Jeep SUV traveling at unsafe speeds along Highway 99 near the 5th Street off-ramp. The driver of the Jeep reportedly responded to the officers by quickly reentering the highway’s southbound lanes via the Hatch Road exit to escape, prompting a pursuit.

The chase ended after the driver, later identified as a 17-year-old Modesto resident, exited toward Mitchell Road and slammed into a nearby light post at the bottom of the off-ramp. Moments after the collision, the vehicle burst into flames.

Officers reacted quickly and extricated all three occupants of the Jeep from the burning wreckage. They were all wearing seatbelts at the time of the incident, said the authorities.

The juvenile driver and the vehicle’s passengers, a 16-year-old and a 20-year-old, all suffered major injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their current conditions are unknown.

The 17-year-old Jeep driver was arrested on several charges, including suspicion of vehicle theft and fleeing law enforcement while causing injuries. He was booked into the Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall after receiving treatment.

No further information was immediately available. The investigation is ongoing.

Seek Help From Our Renowned Reckless Driving Accident Attorneys in Ceres, CA

If you or a loved one is suffering from injuries or was killed as a result of another driver’s recklessness, you have the right to be paid in full for your medical expenses and loss. Seek justice with the help of our reckless driving accident attorneys in our several personal injury law firms across California.

Avail a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., who will review your case, discuss the next steps, and examine all the variables that could affect the settlement amount.

Seek advice from our renowned Ceres reckless driving accident attorneys, who have decades of experience advocating for accident victims. As one of the biggest injury law firms in California, we have recovered more than $500 million for clients.

To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, please call (888) 488-1391 or fill out our “Do I Have a Case?” form.

What Should You Do After A Ceres Car Accident?

First, you should check on all passengers, drivers, and pedestrians involved. If they need medical help, call for an ambulance immediately. Make sure that you don’t move anyone who is unconscious or reports back or neck pain unless their life is in imminent danger, for example, from a fire or oncoming traffic. Since car accidents are unexpected, you also need to do the following:

1. Call the police to report any deaths, injuries, or substantial property damage. Get the names and badge numbers of the officers who are at the scene of the accident. Later, call the police department and request an accident report.
2. Take pictures of all parties involved, including their driver’s licenses, insurance cards, and respective vehicles. Remember to capture any visible damages, skid marks, and the vehicles’ points of rest.
3. Take note of the street names, traffic lights, and signs.
4. Talk to the witnesses and obtain their phone numbers and addresses.
5. Preserve evidence by taking pictures of your injuries.
6. Seek medical attention, even if you feel like your injuries are minor.
7. Call our injury law firm’s California reckless driving accident lawyer for a free case review. We can determine whether your case has merit, secure accident reports and other critical documents for you, assist with insurance negotiations, and help with filing a personal injury claim.

If you’re having trouble securing the accident report from the authorities or an insurer keeps on calling you about the accident, our team can assist you in communicating with them.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

Reckless Driving Accident Statistics

Automobile crashes are the leading cause of unintentional deaths and injuries in the US. Every year, car accidents claim the lives of two million people and injure ten million more.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines reckless driving as “willful disregard” for the safety of other road users. The NHTSA also recorded 11,258 fatalities caused by speeding in 2020. In Ceres, 31 speed-related crashes either resulted in injuries or fatalities, according to data from the latest OTS Crash Rankings Results.