Merced County Supervisor Pedrozo involved in fatal collision with pedestrian, CHP says

John Pedrozo, chairman of the Merced County Board of Supervisors, was involved in a fatal collision with a pedestrian Tuesday night, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Neither drugs nor alcohol were factors in the collision, Officer Moises Onsurez said.

Pedrozo, 57, was driving his Ford F-150 pickup truck around 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, heading north on Doppler Road, when he struck a pedestrian who was standing on the roadway, just north of Le Grand Road, the CHP said.

“Officers determined the pedestrian was in the roadway when the collision occurred,” Onsurez said. “The road in that location has no streetlights and the pedestrian was actually wearing dark clothing.”

The pedestrian, a 33-year-old Merced man whose identity was not released Wednesday, died as a result of the collision. Shortly after the collision, a second vehicle drove over the victim, Onsurez said.

“There are no lights on that rural road and the lighting conditions were a factor in the collision,” Onsurez said.

The driver of the second vehicle was identified as 36-year-old Matthew Kelleher of Le Grand.

Pedrozo issued a statement Wednesday afternoon, describing the incident as an “unavoidable tragedy,” and expressing his condolences to the man’s family.

“Without question, this is the single most traumatic experience of my life,” Pedrozo said in the prepared statement. “I cannot begin to express the pain I feel, but I’m mindful that it pales in comparison to that of this man’s family.”

Pedrozo said he was “extremely distraught and saddened” and said he would “reserve further comment out of respect for the family.”

“I will always have the gentleman’s family and loved ones in my thoughts and prayers,” Pedrozo said.

It was not immediately known where Pedrozo was coming from at the time of the collision, but county officials said Pedrozo was on his personal time.

Pedrozo was first elected to the county Board of Supervisors in 2004 and won re-election in 2008 and again in 2012. He has served as board chairman more than once. His most recent term as the top supervisor began Jan. 1, county spokesman Mike North said.

He was elected in 2000 to the Merced Union High School District and served one term, North said.

This story was originally published June 3, 2015 at 9:10 AM with the headline "Merced County Supervisor Pedrozo involved in fatal collision with pedestrian, CHP says."