Monday, Aug. 23, 2010

Victim ID'd in Hwy. 140 crash

Orlando Torres Garcia has been identified as the 23-year-old Santa Nella man that was killed when his car crashed into a big rig on Highway 140, according to Deputy Tom MacKenzie, sheriff's spokesman.

The crash occurred early last Friday. The victim was traveling in a 2006 Chrysler 300 at an unknown speed on southbound Whitworth Road approaching Highway 140.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old Hector Flores Sanchez of Stockton was driving a big rig pulling a 53-foot trailer eastbound on Highway 140, approaching Whitworth Road at 60 mph.

For unknown reasons, the driver of the Chrysler failed to halt at a posted stop sign. The driver of the big rig saw the Chrysler and applied his brakes but was unable to stop in time, according to authorities.

The big rig struck the right side of the Chrysler, pushing it about 150 feet east of the intersection, where both vehicles came to a stop.

-- Ameera Butt,

Merced Sun-Star