Two Modesto men killed, three people injured in collision during Ceres police pursuit
Two Modesto men were killed and two were seriously injured during a pursuit of a vehicle by the Ceres Police Department on Thursday night, according to a California Highway Patrol release. A Hughson resident also suffered major injuries.
Osvaldo Calles, 20, and Fernando Barajas-Reyes, 20, both were ejected from a 2016 Ford Fusion when it collided with a 2016 Ford Mustang as it entered the intersection of Keyes Road and Geer Road at about 9 p.m., according to the CHP. The area is among farmland about four miles north of downtown Turlock.
As the Fusion entered the intersection from the west, it struck the right side of the Mustang which was traveling south on Geer — ejecting the Fusion’s driver, Calles, and front passenger, Barajas-Reyes. Calles was not wearing a seat belt. Preliminary indications could not determine if Barajas-Reyes or the Fusion’s two rear passenger’s were wearing seat belts, according to the CHP.
The two rear passengers of the Fusion, an 18-year-old and a 24-year-old, both from Modesto, were transported to local hospitals with major injuries. The driver of the Mustang, a 17-year-old Hughson resident, also was transported to a local hospital with major injuries.
CHP was trying to determine if the two rear passengers were ejected as well.
Police had been chasing the Fusion from Ceres, for reasons unknown as of Friday morning. The Ceres Police Department was not immediately available for comment.
The intersection was closed for seven and a half hours while CHP conducted its investigation.
