Woman killed in two-vehicle crash south of Los Banos, according to CHP

A Los Banos woman was killed in a two-vehicle collision south of Los Banos on Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officers responded at about 7:13 p.m. to a report of a collision with possible injuries at Center Avenue and Almond Drive, according to a CHP news release.

Authorities said an initial investigation determined 45-year-old Thomas Decoste of Los Banos, was traveling westbound along Almond Drive in a 2007 GMC at an undetermined speed.

According to the release, Decoste failed to stop at a posted stop sign at the intersection with Center Avenue. The GMC traveled directly in front of a 2006 Honda driven by a 37-year-old Los Banos woman.

The CHP said the front of the Honda collided with the front left side of the GMC. The collision caused both vehicles to travel in a northwest direction and Decoste was fully ejected from the vehicle. Authorities said he was not wearing a seat belt.

Decoste was transported to Memorial North Hospital in Modesto with major injuries. The CHP said the Honda came to rest in an agricultural field and the woman sustained fatal injuries in the collision. The woman’s name has not been released.

The CHP said neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor in the collision.