Coroner IDs Driver Killed In 3-Car Crash In East Contra Costa County

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A driver who died Wednesday in a three-car crash in East Contra Costa County was identified Thursday by the coroner's office as Juan Rafael Bautista, 47, of Pittsburg.

The fatal crash happened shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday on Vasco Road south of Camino Diablo near Byron and closed the roadway in both directions for several hours.

According to the California Highway Patrol's preliminary investigation of the collision, the driver of a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, later identified as Bautista, was traveling northbound on Vasco Road and a Dodge Ram pickup truck with two occupants was traveling southbound when the Dodge crossed into the northbound lane and collided head-on with the Toyota.

As the Dodge began to overturn in the southbound lanes, it collided with a Chevrolet Express that was initially traveling northbound, the CHP said.

The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Dodge driver suffered major injuries, the passenger of the Dodge suffered minor injuries and the Chevy driver suffered minor injuries.

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded to this collision and reported that two patients were airlifted to hospitals and one patient was taken by ground ambulance to a hospital.

First responders at the scene also dealt with a fire. Shortly after 5 p.m. as one of the cars was being moved, it burst into flames. The fire spread to nearby grass and charred between 5 and 10 acres.

The crash was still under investigation Thursday; the CHP asked anyone who witnessed it or the events leading up to it to contact CHP Contra Costa in Martinez at 925-646-4980 or send an email to 320Investigations@chp.ca.gov.