By MARG JACKSON
mjackson@oakdaleleader.com
Auto accidents on opposite ends of Oakdale during the past week resulted in one fatality and left several people with injuries.
An early Thursday morning accident on Jan. 18 claimed the life of Zachary Moore, 20, of Turlock. He was the victim in a two car crash, identified by the Stanislaus County Corners Office.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Moore was the unrestrained driver of a 2001 Infinity that was westbound on Highway 108, west of Kennedy Road in the Knights Ferry area. The crash was reported just after 8:30 a.m., and the driver of the other vehicle, a 30-year old Patterson man, was driving a 2015 Dodge flatbed eastbound on the highway when the Infinity veered into the eastbound lane. The two vehicles collided head on; Moore was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was taken to Oak Valley Hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.
Officers said it was unknown why the Infinity veered into oncoming traffic. The highway was closed for more than three hours while the investigation was conducted and the clean-up completed. Caltrans diverted traffic through the area onto Orange Blossom Road.
On Thursday afternoon, Jan. 18, crews were called to a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Valley Home Road and Highway 120, just northwest of 26-Mile Road. The incident was reported about 3:45 p.m. Thursday with one vehicle on its side on the highway and one coming to rest near the intersection of Valley Home Road. CHP, Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department and Oak Valley Ambulance personnel were all on scene and an air ambulance was also called in. CHP officers on scene said injuries did not appear to be major through there was significant damage to the vehicles.
Traffic leaving Oakdale northbound on Highway 120 was diverted onto Valley Home Road while southbound traffic was diverted on to the frontage road and exited just past the accident scene back onto the highway.
There was no information available about the number of people injured.
Meanwhile, Oakdale Police handled the investigation into a two-vehicle accident that occurred shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday night, Jan. 17.
Police and fire personnel responded to the area of Highway 120/108 and Stearns Road regarding a two vehicle traffic collision. Four individuals that were involved in the collision were taken to local area hospitals. The roadway remained closed for several hours as a result of the collision. Police said a Honda was traveling westbound on the highway just east of Stearns, headed into the city, and collided with a Mercedes Benz traveling southbound on Stearns. Names of those involved and the extent of injuries was not released.
