A Sad Crash in Lodi: What Happened on Highway 12

Who Died in the Crash?

A man named Jose Cesar Belloso Perez, who was 51 years old and lived in Lodi, California, lost his life in a car accident. This happened on Monday morning near Lodi, in a place called San Joaquin County.

When and Where Did It Happen?

• The crash happened on July 13, around 5:51 a.m.
• It took place on Highway 12 at Guard Road
• The people who keep track of roads (called the California Highway Patrol) shared this information

How Did the Crash Happen?

Here is what we know about the accident:

• Jose was driving a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck going east (one direction)
• A Honda car was going west (the opposite direction)
• The Honda moved into Jose’s lane by mistake
• The two vehicles hit each other front to front (a head-on crash)
• After the hit, Jose’s truck went off the road and caught on fire
• The fire also spread to nearby bushes and plants

What Happened to the People?

• Jose Perez was declared dead at the scene (where the crash happened). The San Joaquin County Office of Medical Examiner confirmed this.
• The Honda driver was a 31-year-old man from North Highlands
  • He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries (not very serious ones)
  • He was later arrested (taken by police) because they think he was:
  • Driving under the influence (DUI) — meaning possibly drunk or on drugs
  • Responsible for manslaughter — causing someone’s death by accident

Important Point: The Honda driver survived but is now in trouble with the law because police suspect he caused the deadly crash while impaired.

What Happened to the Cars?

• Both the Chevrolet truck and the Honda were towed away (pulled away by a truck) from the crash spot
• Police are still trying to figure out exactly why the crash happened

Where Exactly Did This Happen?

Below is a map showing the location of the crash on Highway 12 at Guard Road:

Summary

A 51-year-old Lodi man, Jose Cesar Belloso Perez, died in a head-on crash on Highway 12 at Guard Road early on July 13. His truck caught fire after being hit by a Honda that drifted into his lane. The Honda’s 31-year-old driver was hurt slightly, went to the hospital, and was arrested for suspected DUI and manslaughter. Both cars were removed, and police are still investigating.

FAQ

1. What is a head-on collision?
It means two vehicles coming from opposite directions crash front-to-front.

2. What does DUI mean?
DUI stands for "Driving Under the Influence." It means driving after drinking alcohol or taking drugs that make you unsafe.

3. Why was the Honda driver arrested?
Because police think he was impaired (DUI) and caused the crash that killed Jose, which is suspected manslaughter.

4. Is the crash investigation finished?
No, authorities are still looking into what exactly caused the collision.