Tragic Accident on Highway 101 Near Laurel Drive

A tragic accident occurred on Highway 101 in Salinas, where Virginio Cortez, a 77-year-old man, was killed while changing a tire. The incident involved four vehicles and was reported at 1:07 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2024. A 24-year-old driver, Jose Ramiro Sanchez Jr., veered off the road and struck Cortez and a woman standing nearby. The crash led to a series of collisions, resulting in Cortez's death and major injuries to the woman. Sanchez Jr. was later arrested on suspicion of DUI.