Twain Harte, CA…On August 19, 2019, at approximately 5:20 pm, Denver Jacob Bedford, a 34-year-old male from Twain Harte, was driving his 1996 Toyota pickup eastbound on State Route 108, near East Avenue at a high rate of speed. At that same time, Randall Hall Banks, a 56-year-old male from Sonora, was driving his 1996 Jeep Cherokee westbound on State Route 108 near East Avenue with passengers Mellita Cognetti, 33-year-old female from Jamestown and Mary Dailey, 18-year-old female from Sonora. Mr. Bedford allowed his vehicle to travel off the south shoulder of State Route 108 for reasons still being investigated. After leaving the roadway, he lost control of his vehicle and it traveled across the eastbound lane and into the westbound lane directly in front of Mr. Banks’ vehicle. As a result, the front of Mr. Banks vehicle collided into the passenger side of Mr. Bedford’s vehicle. As a result of the collision, both westbound lanes of State Route 108 were closed for approximately 20-25 minutes. The westbound traffic was detoured onto Twain Harte Drive (east).

Mr. Bedford was transported by air ambulance to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for treatment of minor injuries. Ms. Cognetti was transported by air ambulance to Doctor’s Medical Center for treatment of major injuries. Both Mr. Banks and Ms. Dailey were transported by ground ambulance to Adventist Health, Sonora for treatment of minor injuries. This investigation is still under investigation. We are asking that any witness’ to this collision to please contact the Jamestown CHP office at (209)984-3944.

Alcohol and/or drugs are not suspected to be a factor in this collision.