Fiery crash near Modesto leaves 2 dead, several injured

The California Highway Patrol said a driver suspected of speeding died after a three-car crash that killed one other person and injured several others near Modesto Saturday night.  

Around 9:30 p.m., the driver of a green 2026 Porsche coupe crashed into the rear of a Ram pick-up truck while driving westbound on Ladd Road, near Tully Road, the CHP said.

The pick-up truck driver lost control and went off the roadway, where the vehicle then overturned. According to the CHP, the Porsche continued traveling on Ladd Road after the initial crash and subsequently struck an eastbound Mercedes SUV head-on.

The Porsche ultimately came to a rest on the roadway and caught fire. The CHP said the driver of the Porsche, a 57-year-old Modesto man, died at the scene.

A passenger in the Porsche was seriously injured and taken to the hospital. The passenger was identified by the CHP as 38-year-old Jon Burgess of Manteca. On Monday, the CHP said Burgess had died in the hospital on Sunday.

According to the CHP, the 27-year-old driver of the pick-up truck had minor injuries, and the five passengers — a 14-year-old girl, a 42-year-old woman, a 16-year-old girl, a 26-year-old woman, and a 2-year-old girl — had either no injuries or minor injuries.

The driver of the Mercedes and her passenger were seriously injured in the crash. They were identified by the CHP as 52-year-old Diana Ybarra and 53-year-old Manuel Ybarra, both of Oakdale.

CHP investigators say they suspect alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

Everyone involved in the crash had their seatbelts on and were properly restrained inside the vehicles, according to the CHP.