A multi-vehicle accident near the intersection of Highway 108/120 and South Stearns Road just east of Oakdale resulted in injuries to several people and one fatality.

Police reported the removal of a deceased victim to Oak Valley Hospital, while one driver was taken from the scene via helicopter. Others were transported by ground ambulance, with the crash occurring shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, with Oakdale Police Department, Oakdale Rural and City Fire Departments, CHP and Oak Valley Ambulance personnel all among those participating in the rescue efforts.

Oakdale Police Sergeant Joe Johnson said the preliminary investigation showed a green pick-up truck was travelling westbound on Highway 108/120 and slowed preparing to make a left turn to Stearns Road. When the green pick-up pulled into the left turn channel lane, it was rear-ended by a white truck also travelling westbound on Highway 108/120. The force of the impact caused the green truck to go into the path of an Acura van that was travelling east on Highway 108/120 causing another collision.

At the scene, the white pick-up truck driven by an elderly man was off the south side of the highway west of Stearns with its airbag deployed, That driver was pinned and had to be rescued by fire personnel. He was taken by helicopter to Doctors Hospital in Modesto. The helicopter landed in a field off the north side of the highway.

A green pick-up truck with its bed appearing to be sheared off was facing northbound on South Stearns near the stop sign at the highway intersection and the Acura mini-van was facing westbound on the highway just east of the Stearns Road intersection.

Johnson reported that occupants of those vehicles were taken by ambulance to Oak Valley Hospital and Doctors Hospital.

According to Johnson, the deceased subject was a woman who was a passenger in the green pick-up truck.

Traffic control was in place through the area while the rescue and removal of vehicles and debris were conducted. Modesto PD’s Major Accident Investigation Team was called in to assist in the investigation.

Look for full details in the Jan. 15 issue of The Leader.

Staff Reporter Richard Paloma contributed to this coverage