A deadly head-on collision turned a quiet stretch of State Route 4 into a full closure yesterday, leaving one person dead and several others injured in rural Stanislaus County, authorities said. The crash shut down the highway east of Milton Road while emergency crews treated multiple people for injuries ranging from minor to major, and drivers were told to steer clear as investigators took over the scene.
According to CBS Sacramento, the California Highway Patrol said the head-on wreck involved at least two vehicles and left one person dead. CHP’s Modesto office told the outlet that officers were actively investigating at the site and had shut Highway 4 in both directions while they documented evidence. Authorities have not released the names of those involved or offered an estimated time for reopening the roadway.
Where It Happened
The collision unfolded on a rural stretch of SR 4 that connects foothill communities to the Central Valley, a corridor locals know can turn dangerous in a hurry. That roadway has seen serious crashes before, including a May 2025 rollover on Highway 4 east of Dunton Road that killed a Sonora man, according to KCRA. Local residents and emergency responders have long warned that the two-lane segments and limited shoulders make parts of SR 4 hazardous in poor conditions and at higher speeds.
Investigation And Travel Impacts
The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into what caused the crash and will release more details as they become available, CBS Sacramento reported. Highway 4 remained closed in both directions while investigators worked the scene, and drivers in the area were detoured onto alternate routes, adding time and hassle to already long rural drives. Officials urged motorists to give first responders plenty of space and to be prepared for extended travel times around the closure…