Three Injured After CAL Fire Truck Collides With Two Cars in Sonora

• A CAL Fire pickup truck collided with two vehicles at the intersection of Fairview Lane and Stockton Street in Sonora.
• Three drivers were injured, but all cases were classified as minor.
• State Highway Patrol confirmed that neither speeding nor impaired driving caused the crash.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) released details regarding a three-vehicle accident that occurred on Sunday afternoon. The incident involved an emergency vehicle responding to a call and two civilian cars waiting at a busy intersection in Tuolumne County.

Detailed Sequence of Events

According to CHP reports, the crash happened shortly after 1 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. Thomas Fraser was operating a CAL Fire pickup truck southbound on Stockton Street when his emergency lights were activated. He was responding to another incident at the time. At the intersection, 71-year-old Lori Cook was stopped in a 2026 Subaru before pulling into the path of the emergency vehicle. Fraser struck Cook's vehicle, which then pushed into a third car, a 2011 Honda Pilot, waiting on Fairview Lane. The driver of the Honda, 30-year-old Daenara Watson, was also caught in the chain-reaction collision.

Local Impact and Emergency Response

The collision drew immediate attention from local first responders in Sonora. Both Fraser and Watson received minor injuries and were treated directly at the scene. Cook suffered slightly more significant trauma from the impact and was transported via air ambulance to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for further evaluation. The presence of the CAL Fire vehicle highlights the frequent dual role of local firefighters who often serve as first responders across Tuolumne County.

Traffic Safety in Sonora

Intersections in Sonora experience moderate traffic volume, particularly during afternoon hours when residents commute or run errands. The CHP routinely reminds drivers to exercise extreme caution around emergency vehicles running red lights or flashing lights. This reminder comes as part of broader statewide efforts to reduce intersection collisions involving public safety vehicles.

Community Reminder

Authorities are using this incident to reinforce safe driving practices near intersections. Drivers are urged to always yield to emergency vehicles and ensure they remain properly restrained in their seats during travel.