MODESTO - The Modesto Fire Department in conjunction with the Modesto Police Department would like to alert business owners to be aware of companies offering to provide inspection and repair services of businesses, fire extinguishers and hood extinguishing systems that may not be necessary.

The deceitful operators of these service companies have been operating up and down the state of California. In order to create the impression that they are local businesses, these operators frequently use addresses of mail centers where they operate out of a rental mailbox.

MODESTO - A woman has died after being hit by a truck while crossing the street at Bonne Brae and the Oakdale/Waterford Highway Tuesday evening.

The accident happened around 6:45 p.m. in the Waterford area, when a truck traveling on the highway hit the woman as she was crossing the roadway, according to Stanislaus County Sheriff officials.

The woman suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital where she later died. Her name was not released pending notification of family.

The Modesto Police Department's Major Accident Investigations Team investigated the collision at the request of the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.

"Alcohol was not a contributing factor to the cause of the collision," said Modesto police Sgt. Brian Findlen.

The driver of the truck did not face any charges in the accident.

STANISLAUS COUNTY, CA - The child found in the Delta-Mendota Canal near Gustine Tuesday morning had drowned, says the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.

The boy has not been confirmed by authorities as 4-year-old Juliani Cardenas but the description of the drowning victim  matched that of the abducted boy.

Juliani was grabbed from his grandmother's arms in Patterson on Jan. 18 allegedly by Jose Esteban Rodriguez, the former boyfriend of the child's mother. After more than a week of searching, Rodriguez's Toyota Corolla was hauled up from the Delta-Mendota Canal last Friday. It was empty.

A witness had reported seeing the car with two occupants drive into the canal the same day as the kidnapping. 

Authorities believe Rodriguez, too, is in the canal. His body hasn't been found.