A solo vehicle crash early Saturday morning, Nov. 5 outside Escalon resulted in the death of an Oakdale man.
The California Highway Patrol and Escalon Fire Department were among the agencies that responded to the scene; the crash occurred on River Road east of Santa Fe about 12:45 a.m. Saturday.
According to the CHP report, the driver of a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix – identified by the San Joaquin County Coroner’s Office as Travis Roach, 42, of Oakdale – was eastbound on River Road approaching the intersection with Santa Fe at a high rate of speed.
Due to the excessive speed, Roach was unable to maintain control of the vehicle as it traveled across the elevated railroad crossing near the intersection.
The Pontiac traveled through the intersection of River and Santa Fe, still at a high rate of speed, and Roach was not able to regain control of the car. It traveled to the left, where it went off the paved portion of the roadway and traveled along the dirt shoulder before colliding with a fence that surrounded a private residence. After striking that fence, the vehicle continued to travel in an easterly direction where it collided with a separate portion of fencing surrounding the same home. Following the impact with the second fence, the car struck a large tree. Authorities said Roach was trapped in the vehicle and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The collision remains under investigation; anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact the Stockton CHP Area Public Information Officer, R. Jones, at 209-938-4800.