USPS mail carrier seriously injured in crash with a big rig west of Turlock

A U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was seriously injured Friday afternoon in a collision with a big rig west of Turlock.

The crash occurred just after 1 p.m. on Crows Landing Road, just south of Monta Vista Avenue, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Tom Olsen.

The mail carrier, Nicholas Curtricht, was on the right shoulder of Crows Landing Road, delivering mail, when he made a U-turn into the path of a northbound big rig, Olsen said.

The big rig, traveling around the speed limit of 55 mph, collided with Curtricht’s mail truck.

Curtricht suffered major injuries and was taken by helicopter to Memorial Medical Center, Olsen said.

The driver of the big rig, Larry Springfield, also was taken to Memorial. He had minor injuries.

Olsen said CHP officers secured the scene until a USPS representative arrived and collected all the mail that was in the mail truck.