Authorities corrected early reports that said two people died inside the house.
MODESTO, CA — A person inside a north Modesto home was killed early Tuesday after a driver fleeing California Highway Patrol officers crashed into the house, sparked a fire and left the home badly damaged, authorities said.
The crash happened after CHP officers tried to stop a speeding Ford sedan shortly before 1:30 a.m. in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood. Early information from officials said two people inside the home had died, but CHP later clarified that one person was killed. The victim was not in the car and was believed to have been house-sitting while the residents were out of town.
CHP Officer Aaron Fay said officers first saw the vehicle traveling east at a high rate of speed on Standiford Avenue near Carver Road at about 1:20 a.m. Tuesday. Officers activated their red lights and siren, but the driver did not pull over, Fay said. The car continued south on McHenry Avenue, then turned east onto Robin Hood Drive near a red light. Moments later, it crashed into a house at Tuxford Lane, where Robin Hood Drive curves through the neighborhood.
The driver was identified as 20-year-old Stanislaus County resident Zachariah James Knobel. Fay said Knobel reported no injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he was medically cleared. Investigators said a field sobriety test found he was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An 18-year-old woman who was riding as a passenger in the Ford was pulled from the car and later released to her mother at the scene, authorities said.
Modesto Fire Department crews were sent to the area of Robin Hood Drive and Tuxford Lane for reports of a vehicle in a house and a possible structure fire. While engines were on the way, the call was upgraded to a working fire. Fire crews found a single-story home with the vehicle inside. The fire was mostly contained to the car, with some extension into the house. Firefighters searched the home because of reports that someone was inside.
The person killed was found inside the residence. Authorities had not released the victim’s name as of Tuesday. Officials said it was not yet clear whether the victim died from the impact of the crash, the fire or another cause tied to the wreck. The Stanislaus County coroner’s office was expected to make the formal identification and determine the cause and manner of death after family notification and examination.
The crash left debris across the property and street. Investigators placed evidence markers around the home and used a drone over the crash scene. A tree in the front yard was damaged, and pieces of the vehicle were seen on the roof. Neighbors said the property had large boulders and pillars in the yard after an earlier crash years ago, but the car missed those barriers before hitting the home.
Knobel was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center. Authorities said he faces charges that include second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter, felony DUI, evading police and driving on a suspended license. Jail and court records were expected to show his first appearance date after booking. Prosecutors had not announced a formal charging decision beyond the booking allegations Tuesday.
The CHP’s major accident investigation team from Fresno remained at the scene into midmorning. Robin Hood Drive and Tuxford Lane were closed for several hours as investigators worked, fire crews checked the structure and tow crews handled the wreckage. The investigation is expected to review the pursuit, the speed of the Ford, the condition of the driver and the sequence of the crash.
Residents nearby described being startled awake by the sound of the crash. Neighbor Mike Hardin said he recognized the home because his mother had lived there for more than three decades. Hardin said another vehicle had crashed into the same house in the mid-2000s, damaging the front of the residence. After that crash, he said, his father added large landscaping barriers in hopes of protecting the property.
The homeowners were away when the crash happened, neighbors and CHP said. The person killed was believed to be watching the home for them. By Tuesday afternoon, investigators had corrected the death toll, confirmed the driver’s arrest and continued collecting evidence at the damaged house. The next major update is expected when authorities release the victim’s name or court records show Knobel’s first hearing.
Author note: Last updated June 9, 2026.