MODESTO – A burning pickup truck with an attached trailer sent a large plume of black smoke into the air Friday evening, stalling traffic on Highway 99.

At about 6:30pm emergency crews were dispatched to the area of Southbound Highway 99 near the Kansas Avenue exit for a report of a vehicle on fire. Arriving firefighters found a pickup truck with a trailer that was engulfed in fire on the right shoulder.

Early reports indicate the driver was able to exit the vehicle. At time of publication traffic was backed up nearly to Salida.

MODESTO – Emergency crews responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle Friday afternoon.

The collision happened shortly after 3:45pm on the Carpenter overcrossing at Highway 99. Arriving police officers located a pedestrian with a significant head injury losing consciousness.

Southbound traffic on the bridge is expected to be closed. Motorists should seek an alternate route.

STOCKTON – A man wanted in connection for the deaths of a mother and her son just days before Christmas has been captured in Mexico, officials reported this week.

Julio Valdez was located and arrested on February 11th in Rosarito, Mexico by members of a US Marshals Task Force along with Mexico Regional Police. He was taken into custody without incident.

On December 23rd, 2024 officers with the Stockton Police Department were called to the 2500 block of Belleview Street for a report of two unresponsive persons. They located two victims who were pronounced deceased at the scene, later identified as Alicia Montejano and her son Reuel Huerta.

Valdez is expected to be extradited back to San Joaquin County. The investigation is ongoing.