Woodland, CA – On the morning of Thursday, October 23, 2025, a two-vehicle collision claimed the life of Estela Hernandez Vargas, 71, and left multiple people injured, according to ABC10.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 6:30 AM at the intersection of County Road 102 and County Road 17, east of Highway 113 in Yolo County.
Authorities said Vargas, of Knights Landing, was driving a Kia south on County Road 102 when a driver in a Toyota traveling east on County Road 17 allegedly ran through a stop sign and struck her vehicle.
The impact forced the Kia off the roadway, where first responders found Vargas unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the Yolo County Coroner’s Office.
The Toyota’s driver, a 53-year-old man from Woodland, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center for treatment. The Kia’s two passengers, identified as members of Vargas’s family, suffered major injuries and were also transported to a nearby hospital.
One family member was reported to be fighting for his life, while the other was in stable condition after surgery, according to a verified GoFundMe page created to assist with funeral and medical expenses.
Authorities confirmed that alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash. Both lanes of the rural intersection were temporarily closed while emergency crews and tow services cleared the wreckage.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol’s Woodland Area office.
Ongoing Investigations
Victims of traffic accidents and their families should be aware that authorities may fail to note or even misinterpret critical evidence at a crash site. One of the services that a Personal Injury Attorney can provide is to pursue follow-up investigations, which can reveal additional evidence to correct any errors made by previous investigators.
Wrongful Death Claims
Losing a loved one in a traffic accident is devastating, and the pain can be made worse by the financial strain that often follows. Medical bills, funeral costs, and the loss of income to support dependents of the deceased can leave families struggling. Filing a Wrongful Death claim against those responsible can provide compensation to help with these expenses.
California Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, contact a California Wrongful Death Lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
