A multi-vehicle accident late night Wednesday, July 9 resulted in the death of a Modesto man.

The California Highway Patrol reported that there were three vehicles involved in the crash, which occurred along Highway 120, west of Valley Home Road, near the intersection with Cleveland Avenue, at about 10:10 p.m.

Emergency personnel arriving on scene located three vehicles with collision damage. The driver of a 2024 Lexus sedan, identified as Benjamin Paul, 48, of Modesto was taken to an area hospital after being extricated from his vehicle. He later died of his injuries. His identity was released through the Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office.

The preliminary CHP investigation indicates the Lexus was traveling westbound on Highway 120, west of Valley Home Road. For an unknown reason, Paul allowed the vehicle to enter the eastbound lane of traffic, heading toward an eastbound 2014 Kenworth combination. The left side of the Lexus struck the left side of the combination’s trailer, said the CHP report, with the Lexus then continuing westbound in the eastbound lane, where it collided head on with a 2021 Chevrolet SUV before coming to rest.

Two passengers in the Chevrolet were transported to hospitals with minor injuries; a total of three ambulances responded to the scene.

The CHP added that the driver of the Kenworth, a 27-year-old man from Oakdale, and the driver of the SUV, a 33-year-old Oakdale man, were not injured.

Authorities said all involved parties were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision.