Key keywords: Manteca 3-car crash, serious traffic accident Manteca, hospitalized crash victims Manteca, San Joaquin County multi-vehicle collision, 2024 Manteca traffic incident, DUI-related car crash Manteca, Manteca intersection car accident The three-vehicle collision that left two people with life-threatening injuries unfolded at the intersection of West Louise Avenue and North Main Street in downtown Manteca at approximately 5:17 p.m. last Wednesday, during the peak evening commute period, according to official reports from the Manteca Police Department (MPD). Preliminary investigation findings show that a 28-year-old male driver operating a black 2019 Toyota Camry ran a solid red light while traveling northbound on North Main Street, striking the passenger side of a white 2021 Honda Odyssey that was legally traveling westbound through the intersection after receiving a green light. The force of the impact caused the Honda Odyssey to spin out of control, colliding with a blue 2020 Ford F-150 that was stopped in the left-turn lane waiting to turn south onto North Main Street. First responders from the Manteca Fire Department and local EMS teams arrived on the scene within five minutes of receiving multiple 911 calls from witnesses. Crews had to use hydraulic extraction tools to remove two passengers from the Honda Odyssey, a 32-year-old female resident of Lathrop and her 7-year-old son, who both suffered traumatic brain injuries and multiple broken bones in the crash. The two were airlifted to San Joaquin General Hospital’s trauma center, where they remain in the intensive care unit as of Thursday afternoon, with hospital staff describing their conditions as stable but still critical. The drivers of the Toyota Camry and Ford F-150 only suffered minor cuts and bruises, and were treated and released from a local urgent care center the same day. MPD officers confirmed that they found evidence of recreational marijuana and unauthorized prescription opioids in the Toyota Camry, and the driver failed a field sobriety test at the scene. He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of controlled substances, felony reckless endangerment, and causing great bodily injury while driving impaired, and is currently being held at the San Joaquin County Jail on a $250,000 bail. The intersection was closed to all traffic for nearly four hours while crash reconstruction teams processed the scene, leading to major traffic delays across downtown Manteca that extended the evening commute by an average of 90 minutes for local residents. MPD officials noted that this crash marks the 17th multi-vehicle collision reported at this specific intersection in 2024, a 22% increase from the same period last year, and they are asking any witnesses who have not yet spoken to investigators to contact the MPD traffic safety unit to share additional details. Local authorities also announced that they will be launching a 30-day targeted enforcement campaign at high-risk intersections across Manteca in response to the crash, focusing on red light violations, distracted driving, and impaired driving offenses.