By Crash News Writer 
Sonora, CA (July 25, 2025) – Four people from Puerto Rico tragically lost their lives Wednesday evening following a devastating collision in Tuolumne County involving a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Dodge Ram pickup.
According to reports, the crash occurred just before 6:00 p.m. on July 24 at the intersection of Highway 49 and Shaws Flat Road. José Antonio Orta Cotto, 56, was driving a black 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee westbound on Shaws Flat Road when, for unknown reasons, he entered the path of a northbound Dodge Ram 2500 traveling at approximately 60 mph.
The front of the pickup struck the driver’s side of the Jeep, sending it onto the west shoulder of Highway 49. Orta Cotto and three passengers—Michelle Cotto Rodríguez, 52; Elba Meléndez Orta, 72; and José Orta Carmona, 83—were killed in the crash. Three were pronounced dead at the scene, and one later passed away at Adventist Health Sonora.
The pickup driver, identified as 18-year-old Joshua Nodine of Sonora, suffered moderate to major injuries. CHP confirmed that two of the Jeep’s rear passengers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Drugs or alcohol are not suspected as factors.
Highway 49 was closed for two hours as investigators cleared the scene. A GoFundMe has been launched to help the victims’ families with repatriation and funeral costs.
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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.