Crash claims lives of Tenaya teacher and son

Tenaya Middle School lost a teacher and student after the mother and son died Wednesday in a crash near Livingston, Sheriff Vern Warnke confirmed.

The Merced County Coroner’s Office identified the two as residents of the McSwain area, Windly Soza and her son, Adrian.

Soza, 41, was a teacher at Tenaya, Warnke said. Adrian, 12, was a student at the school.

The California Highway Patrol reported that Soza’s Lexus, traveling north on Highway 99, crossed over the center divide just before 5 p.m. Wednesday and collided with a Dodge Ram pickup truck that was traveling south. The collision occurred in the southbound lanes between the Westside Boulevard exit and the Sultana Drive off-ramp. The Ram struck the passenger side of the Lexus before overturning.

The Dodge Ram’s driver, Michael Farmen, 63, of Fresno, suffered minor injuries, CHP Officer Moises Onsurez said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 9:57 AM with the headline "Crash claims lives of Tenaya teacher and son."