Woman Killed in Fatal Head-On Collision in Sonora
A woman was killed, and four children were injured after a fatal head-on collision in the Sonora area on the night of Monday, October 26, 2020. The deadly crash occurred on Phoenix Lake Road in the vicinity of Bear Cub Drive at approximately 6:15 p.m. A 19-year-old man allegedly lost control of his truck and entered the direct path of a 1996 Suzuki SUV driven by 33-year-old Melissa Patania of Sonora. Sadly, Ms. Patania suffered fatal injuries at the scene. Her four minor passengers all suffered critical injuries and were flown to UC Davis Medical Center for treatment. The man was transported by air ambulance to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for treatment of serious injuries. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that he is facing driving under the influence (DUI) and vehicular manslaughter charges. A GoFundMe page has been created on behalf of Ms. Patania to help support her five surviving children and her final resting expenses.