Victim in fatal crash identified as Los Banos man

A Los Banos man was killed and another injured when their vehicle drove into a creek, authorities said.

Cory Stokes, 46, was killed in the crash early Thursday on Creek Road just outside Los Banos. The Merced County Coroner’s Office released his name Tuesday.

A passenger in Stokes’ vehicle, Jose Ramirez, 36, of Los Banos, suffered major injuries and was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. A call to the hospital Tuesday was not returned, and an update on his condition was not available.

The California Highway Patrol said Stokes was behind the wheel of a 2007 Toyota Tundra when the vehicle traveled off Creek Road about 4 a.m. Thursday. The vehicle went into the creek, where it slammed into a dirt embankment. Stokes was taken to Memorial Hospital Los Banos, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the CHP, alcohol or drugs may have been factors in the crash.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 5:07 PM with the headline "Victim in fatal crash identified as Los Banos man."