A 47-year-old man from Ceres was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a head-on collision south of Hilmar early Thursday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
CHP public information officer Eric Zuniga said Albert Azevedo was driving a 2008 Nissan Altima northbound on Highway 165, just north of Turner Road, when his vehicle crossed into the southbound lane. The Altima then collided head-on with a Hyundai Genesis driven by a 33-year-old Delhi resident. The name of the second driver has not been released.
The crash happened at about 5:20 a.m., and both drivers were traveling at approximately 55 mph. There were no passengers in either vehicle.
Both drivers sustained minor to moderate injuries and were taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto for treatment. Zuniga noted that Azevedo was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, while the other driver was.
The roadway was blocked following the incident but reopened around 6:43 a.m.
Zuniga emphasized, “the importance of not drinking and driving, especially during the holiday season.”
