Virginio Cortez Obituary, – The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who was killed on Highway 101 in Salinas on Saturday. The California Highway Patrol reported that a total of four vehicles were involved in the crash on southbound Highway 101 south of Laurel Drive, with the incident being first reported at 1:07 p.m.
Virginio Cortez, a 77-year-old resident of Salinas, was changing a tire on a silver Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck on the right shoulder. A maroon Nissan Altima and a 38-year-old Salinas woman were also present near the pickup truck. As a black 2005 Acura TL driven by 24-year-old Jose Ramiro Sanchez Jr. of Salinas approached the pickup truck in the number 2 lane, it veered off the road and side-swiped the woman. The Acura then struck Cortez and eventually collided with the pickup truck, causing it to overturn on its right side.
The Acura also spun out and crashed into a white 2003 Honda Pilot driven by a 29-year-old man from Soledad, who had at least two children in the vehicle, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Following the crash, all parties involved remained at the scene. Unfortunately, Cortez succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while the Salinas woman sustained abdominal contusions and was transported to Natividad Medical Center for treatment of major injuries. Sanchez Jr. suffered moderate injuries and was also taken to Natividad Medical Center for medical care, where he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
