CAR CRASH: Driver Crashes, Dies while Trying to Overtake Big Rig
May 19, 2010
Atwater - A 68-year-old male driver, from Atwater, has died in a crash while trying to overtake an International big rig on Shaffer Road along north of Palm Avenue.
According to reports, the driver was traveling northbound in a Chevrolet pickup when he tried to overtake a big rig that was being driven by Francisco Ochoa, 40, also from Atwater.
When the driver moved into the southbound lane, he noticed that a number of vehicles were moving toward him so he decided to return to the other lane. However, the rear of his vehicle suddenly clipped the front of the big rig, causing it to spin out of control.
Reports said the driver then crashed into a concrete canal blank and plunged right into a canal, which was full of water.
A number of drivers stopped just to help get the pickup driver out of his vehicle. The man was then brought to a hospital in Modesto where he was announced dead.
No one else was inside the vehicle when the accident occurred, said reports.