The California Highway Patrol reported the deaths of three people in two separate car crashes in Merced County in recent days.
The victims included two 19-year-old women, both UC Merced students, killed Saturday morning after their car struck a power pole on Lake Road near Atlantic Street, just north of Yosemite Avenue and about two miles south of UC Merced.
Their names haven't been released pending notification of their families, according to CHP spokesman Officer John Patterson. Officials at UC Merced have confirmed that the victims attended the school.
Two other people inside the car, Laton residents 18-year-old Miguel Salvador Jimenez and 19-year-old Marian Velasquez-Martinez, were taken to Mercy Medical Center Merced with minor injuries.
The crash happened around 10:30 a.m. after the victims were traveling in a 2003 Nissan Altima southbound on Lake Road, at about 45-50 mph. The car drifted onto the west shoulder. The driver turned left, back onto the roadway, but then lost control. The car spun clockwise back onto the west shoulder, and its left side struck the power pole.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, while the left rear passenger was flown to a Modesto hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. All four occupants were wearing seat belts.
Alcohol wasn't a factor in the crash, the CHP reported.
The other fatal crash happened Thursday night when a 57-year-old man was killed after being struck by a truck on Schendel Avenue in Delhi.
The victim's name hasn't been released by the Stanislaus County Coroner's Office, pending notification of his family.
The fatality happened around 8 p.m. The victim was walking in a southerly direction on Schendel Avenue, west of Hillside Avenue. Meanwhile, 61-year-old David Williams of Delhi was driving a 2001 GMC Sierra eastbound on Schendel Road at about 25 mph.
The victim walked into the eastbound lane of Schendel Road, directly into the path of the GMC. Williams hit his brakes, but was unable to avoid hitting the pedestrian, then stopped at the scene.
The victim was flown to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, where he died. Alcohol wasn't a factor in the crash, the CHP reported.
Managing Editor Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
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