A Modesto man, Daniel Valdovinos, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, DUI, and hit-and-run following a crash early Sunday morning that killed 52-year-old Jose Reyes. Valdovinos, who turned 37 on the day of the crash, is being held on $250,000 bail at the Public Safety Center. He was scheduled for arraignment on four felony charges.
The crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. on West Hatch Road near a homeless encampment by the Tuolumne River. Reyes was a passenger in a parked Toyota Prius when it was hit by a Chevrolet Traverse. The driver of the Prius was taken to the hospital, but Valdovinos, who had no passengers and was not injured, remained at the scene.
Reyes and the Prius driver had stayed in their car overnight after running out of gas and waiting for help that did not arrive. Despite initial reports identifying them as transients, a local woman who knew Reyes said they were not homeless.
A wooden cross now marks the crash site, surrounded by a potted plant, candles, and a beer can in Reyes’ memory. Witnesses are encouraged to contact Traffic Safety Officer Brad Beavers at [email protected].