Westside — Two incidents on State Route 33 last week — one involving a convicted felon with a firearm and another a violent crash caused by an impatient driver — prompted renewed safety warnings from the California Highway Patrol’s Modesto office.

CHP said graveyard‑shift officers stopped a Kia earlier in the week after clocking it at 84 mph in a 55‑mph zone. During the stop, officers found a firearm near the right‑front passenger seat. The passenger, identified as a convicted felon, was arrested on suspicion of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

“Speeding violations often lead to much more than a citation,” the agency said in a statement posted Friday. “Traffic enforcement is one of the most effective tools we have to remove dangerous drivers, illegal firearms, and other criminal activity from our roadways.”

The arrest came just days after a separate crash on June 23, also on SR‑33, when a driver attempted to squeeze between a passenger car that had pulled over and a big rig hauling a wide load. CHP said the maneuver resulted in a violent collision that nearly split the vehicle in half.

Despite the severity of the crash, all involved sustained only minor injuries. CHP credited seat belt use for preventing a tragedy.

The agency said the crash underscores the dangers of impatience on rural highways, especially when wide‑load trucks are present.

“Wide loads require extra space,” CHP said. “Slow down, move over, be patient, and never attempt to squeeze through gaps that aren’t there.”

CHP Modesto urged drivers to use caution, obey posted speed limits and remain alert to avoid preventable crashes.