Head-On Collision Between Two Pickup Trucks Occurs Monday Evening on California Highway 49
TUOLUMNE, CA, (July 30, 2025) - A head-on collision in Tuolumne County Monday evening left one man dead and another person injured, with authorities suspecting impairment as a factor in the crash.
Jan Ruff was injured Monday evening in a head-on collision involving a suspected impaired driver on California Highway 49 in Tuolumne County.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the incident occurred around 5:25 p.m. on California Highway 49. Jan Ruff, a 70-year-old Sonora resident, was driving a northbound 2012 Chevrolet Silverado when a southbound 1996 GMC Sonoma crossed the center line and struck her vehicle head-on. The GMC then caught fire.
Ruff sustained moderate injuries. The driver of the GMC, a 63-year-old man from Modesto, was trapped in the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene after the fire was extinguished.
CHP says alcohol and/or drugs are suspected as contributing factors. The crash remains under active investigation.
DUI ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
This tragic accident was clearly preventable. Impaired drivers pose a serious threat to everyone on the road and have the potential to senselessly ruin lives in a matter of seconds.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), approximately 300,000 people are injured each year in the U.S. as a result of drunk driving. When a driver is under the influence, they often suffer from impaired judgment, reduced coordination, blurred vision, and delayed reaction time—factors that significantly increase the risk of a serious or fatal crash.
“Drunken and drugged drivers are subject to criminal charges following an accident or collision that causes harm or death to another person,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal and an experienced DUI accident attorney. “Separate from any criminal proceedings, the victim’s family may also be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the responsible party.”
The National Safety Council reports that drivers impaired by alcohol, drugs, or medication are responsible for roughly 10 percent of all fatal traffic collisions—making DUI-related crashes the second-leading cause of roadway fatalities in the U.S.
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
Jan Ruff may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim pending the outcome of the investigation.
Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, stated, “Injured victims involved in a collision often seek a personal injury claim to cover the cost of medical bills, future medical care, loss of income, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering.”
“Insurance companies can be notoriously unconcerned with the mounting costs that an injured party may accrue. An attorney can help. We protect the victims of these tragedies daily, forcing the insurance companies to pay for their mistakes,” she added.
If you, a friend, or a family member has been injured by a hit-and-run or drunk driver, contact national legal analyst Candice Bond for a free consultation.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).