CYCLIST HIT: Above, firefighters work to extricate motorcyclist Donald Pali, 37, from under a motor home in the late afternoon hours of Friday, April 25. Pali died from his injuries, making him the first person to die in Manteca from a vehicle accident this year.

TRAGEDY: Rescuers used the Jaws of Life Sunday, April 27 to get at 86-year-old Tony Pardiso after the Pontiac he was traveling in was hit by an SUV, shown above at right, that ran a red light at South Main Street and West Louise Avenue. Pardiso later passed away at San Joaquin County General Hospital; the driver of the Pontiac remained in critical condition Thursday.

MANTECA — Three Manteca men were killed in four days between Thursday, April 24 and Sunday, April 27 — two to car crashes, the first fatal accidents in the city this year.

Man killed by train
A 40-year-old man was found dead just after 10 p.m. Thursday, April 24 after he was struck by a train at the South Main Street crossing.

Patrick Linn Abbott was thrown 100 feet by the impact of the train, which was traveling at a speed of 37 mph.

Manteca Police received a call from a Union Pacific Railroad employee at 10:05 p.m., but Abbott was dead by the time help arrived on the scene.

It appeared that Abbott may have been drunk at the time of the accident, but toxicology tests will take up to four weeks, according to police spokesman Rex Osborn.

No foul play is suspected, Osborn said.

Motorcyclist killed by motor home
A motor home crashed into a motorcycle at the corner of South Union Road and Daniels Street on Friday, April 25, trapping the motorcyclist under the vehicle and killing him.

Donald Pali, 37, was riding his Suzuki motorcycle southbound on Union Road at 5 p.m. when he was struck by a 31-foot motor home making a left turn from Daniels onto Union.

Firefighters managed to extricate Pali from under the motor home and took him to Kaiser Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Pali had the right-of way, Osborn said, but no charges have been filed against the driver of the motor home, 36-year-old Jonathan McElrath of Manteca.

Osborn said that neither party was speeding and alcohol was not thought to be a factor, but investigations are still ongoing and charges may be filed later.

Elderly man dies in crash
A two-car collision at the intersection of South Main Street and West Louise Avenue killed an elderly man on Sunday, April 27.

Driver Lois Smith, 76, and passenger Tony Pardiso, 86, were traveling westbound on Louise Avenue around 11 a.m. when a Toyota SUV, driving southbound on North Main Street, ran a red light and broadsided the passenger side of the car.

A nurse and nurse practitioner that were in the area performed CPR on Pardiso until emergency personnel arrived.
Pardiso was trapped in the car, Osborn said, and firefighters and EMTs had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate him.

He was then transported to San Joaquin County General Hospital in French Camp, where he died from his injuries.

The driver of the SUV, Elizabeth Picardal, 48, and Smith were both treated at local hospitals, Osborn said.

Picardal was released later Sunday evening, Osborn said, but Smith was still hospitalized in critical condition as of press time Thursday.

Police were able to analyze the crash using footage captured by cameras at the neighboring Walgreens store.

The investigation was still underway as of press time, but Osborn said police would soon make a recommendation to the district attorney for Pardiso’s death.