Car accident resulting from an unlawful street race in Modesto, leading to one driver's injury and another's arrest, according to the California Highway Patrol.
In Modesto, California, a 22-year-old man named Raul Torres Jr., from Manteca, was arrested after a high-speed street race on Highway 99 resulted in a severe crash involving a Corvette driver.
The incident took place on Sunday afternoon, northbound on SR-99 near Standiford Avenue. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Corvette lost control, veered into the dirt center median, crossed all northbound lanes, landed on the right shoulder, and overturned several times. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and sustained major injuries. The Corvette's passenger, a 28-year-old, sustained minor injuries.
The Mustang driver, who is now behind bars, briefly stopped after the crash but then fled the scene. Officers later arrested him at his Manteca home. The CHP suspects that Raul Torres Jr. was driving unlicensed, engaged in a speed contest, and is responsible for reckless driving causing bodily injury.
The driver of the Corvette was not wearing a seat belt, which may have contributed to the severity of the injuries sustained. The Mustang driver's car was impounded, and the Corvette was towed away.
The CHP strongly warns against street racing, emphasising that it is life-threatening and carries serious legal consequences. In California, street racing can lead to misdemeanors or felonies depending on the circumstances, such as injuries or property damage. Possible penalties include arrest, fines, vehicle impoundment, driver's license suspension or revocation, and even jail time.
This arrest serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with street racing and the CHP's commitment to enforcing these laws, particularly on heavily trafficked routes like Highway 99. The CHP issued a news release stating, "It's not worth your life."
Sources:
- Local News Station 1
- Local News Station 2
- California Highway Patrol News Release
- Online Newspaper
- TheSFGate, an online newspaper, reported that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) News Release stated that the high-speed street race on Highway 99 in Modesto, California, resulted in a severe crash involving a Corvette.
- Apart from the severe crash on Sunday afternoon, the CHP also indicated that the arrested driver, Raul Torres Jr., was charged with reckless driving causing bodily injury, speeding, and driving without a license, which classified as crime-and-justice news.
- Although the accident on Highway 99 involving a Corvette and a Mustang happened on the general-news radar, the sports section may have an interest in the event if details about the Corvette's specifications or the Mustang model become relevant.
