The Ceres Police Department last week released details on the Saturday, April 17 crash in west Ceres that sent some motorists to the hospital and generated a lot of attention on social media.

That information was not available before the Courier went to press for the April 24 issue.

According to Ceres Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Dirk Nieuwenhuis, the crash occurred at 9:08 p.m. at the intersection of Hackett and Morgan roads. Investigators concluded that the crash was caused when a Chevy Silverado driven by Andrew Keefe, 24, of Virginia City, Nevada, was southbound on Morgan Road and Omar Vasquez Cruz, 32, of Ceres was driving an Izuzu food truck and turned left from northbound Morgan onto westbound Hackett Road. The impact sent the refrigeration box truck onto its side, coming to rest on the corner south of the Sinclear Elementary School parking lot, injuring Cruz and a passenger. Both were taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of minor to moderate injuries.

The pickup, which came to rest at the southwest corner of the intersection, was a total loss. 

“The traffic light is a presumptive green so anyone turning must yield to traffic,” said Sgt. Nieuwenhuis. “It appears Andrew was speeding which caused the collision.”

Modesto Fire Department reported that a third person was taken to a hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

Alcohol was deemed not to be a factor and all parties remained on scene and cooperated with law enforcement.  

First-responders also contained a small diesel spill caused by the crash.