By Crash News Writer 
Tuolumne County, CA (July 25, 2025) – Four individuals from Puerto Rico were killed and another person injured in a devastating two-vehicle crash Wednesday evening in the Sonora area of Tuolumne County.
According to reports, the collision occurred at approximately 5:54 p.m. on July 24 at the intersection of Shaws Flat Road and Highway 49. The California Highway Patrol stated that a 56-year-old man driving a westbound Jeep Grand Cherokee stopped at the intersection but then entered directly into the path of a northbound pickup truck traveling at around 60 miles per hour.
The impact hurled the Jeep to the west shoulder of Highway 49, where it came to rest. The Jeep’s driver and all three passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. They have been identified as Jose Ortacotto, 56; Jose Ortacarmona, 83; Elba Melendezdeorta, 72; and Michelle Cotto Rodriguez, 52.
Officials believe only the front seat occupants were wearing seatbelts. The 18-year-old pickup driver from Jamestown sustained moderate to major injuries. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to have played a role in the crash.
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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
The information in this article is based on initial reports from local authorities and may be subject to updates as investigations continue.
- The identities of those involved in the incident have not been released pending official confirmation and notification of next of kin.
- Further details about the accident, including toxicology results and potential charges, will be shared as they become available.
- Road closures and traffic updates related to the accident scene can be found by checking with local authorities or traffic monitoring services.
The content of this news story is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. All information is based on public reports at the time of publication, and details may change as investigations progress. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel if they or someone they know have been involved in a similar incident. The publisher assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this article. Learn more with our disclaimer.