Highway 101 Crash:
The man who was killed on Saturday on Highway 101 in Salinas has been identified by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), four vehicles crashed on southbound Highway 101 south of Laurel Drive. The crash was initially reported at 1:07 p.m.
CHP said that 77-year-old Virginio Cortez, a Salinas resident, was changing a tire on a silver Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck on the right shoulder. A maroon Nissan Altima was on the right shoulder in front of the pickup truck, and a 38-year-old Salinas woman was also standing near the pickup truck.
At the same time, a black 2005 Acura TL, driven by 24-year-old Jose Ramiro Sanchez Jr. of Salinas, was traveling in the number 2 lane. As he approached the pickup truck, he veered off the road and side-swiped the Salinas woman, per CHP.
The Acura continued south and hit Cortez, and eventually crashed into the pickup truck, said CHP.
The pickup truck was pushed into the rear of the Nissan and overturned on its right side as a result.
The Acura also spun out and crashed into a white 2003 Honda Pilot driven by a 29-year-old man from Soledad. There were at least two children in the Honda, but nobody received any injuries, said CHP.
Everyone stayed at the scene following the crash.
Cortez died of his injuries at the scene, said CHP.
The Salinas woman suffered abdominal contusions and was taken to Natividad Medical Center with major injuries.
Sanchez Jr. suffered moderate injuries from the crash and was taken to Natividad Medical Center for treatment, said CHP.
Sanchez Jr. was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI).
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