Accidents March 17, 2025

STOCKTON, CA — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is in the process of investigating an accident at the Port of Stockton involving a train car, resulting in the injury of an employee. According to the NTSB, the incident occurred March 11 during a rerailing procedure, wherein a derailed car is positioned back on the railroad tracks.

The Port of Stockton, operated by the Central California Traction Company, is associated with multiple railways, including Union Pacific, BNSF, and Stockton Public Railway.

NTSB officials reported that there will be investigations into the incident and the equipment used during the rerailing. A preliminary report will likely be produced in about 30 days.

MODESTO, CA — On Friday, March 14 around 5:35pm, emergency personnel were dispatched to a fatal crash involving a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle.

The deadly accident occurred on Morgan Road just south of Nelson Way, halting traffic along both roads. Modesto officials stated that according to their preliminary investigations, the Mustang was driving south on Morgan Road when it collided with the northbound big rig. The driver of the Mustang was rushed to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries.

The driver of the semi suffered only minor injuries. The cause of the collision is ongoing.

MODESTO, CA – Late morning, around 11am on Saturday, March 15, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Dept. reported that a person was seriously injured in a helicopter crash at the Modesto Reservoir. Preliminary reports state that two people were aboard the aircraft when it hurtled into the water, sending both the pilot and passenger to an area hospital.

According to a sheriff’s department spokesperson, the more injured person’s injuries were not expected to be fatal. At the time of the statement, the nature of the other occupant’s injuries were unknown. The reservoir waterway will remain closed for an undetermined length of time as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CA — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that a multi-car collision killed three people and left two others with serious injuries.

According to the report, the crash happened on Sunday, March 16, around 3:40 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 88 and Highway 12, just east of Clements Road. The report states that a Ford Fiesta lost control and swerved left into a westbound lane before colliding with a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Stockton CHP officer Josh Case stated that the Fiesta contained roughly “twenty to thirty open containers” of alcohol, leading investigators to believe that alcohol was a contributing factor in the collision. The Fiesta contained the driver and four passengers, none of whom were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

The Fiesta driver and two of the passengers died. The other two passengers were rushed to San Joaquin General Hospital with serious injuries.

The Tacoma driver reportedly sustained only minor injuries.