Woodlake man who died in rollover crash in Merced County identified, authorities say

A passenger who died in a single-vehicle rollover collision Thursday near Snelling has been identified as 59-year-old Woodlake resident Ampelio Contreras, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

A 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck was traveling south on La Grange Road north of Merced Falls Road and east of Snelling when, just before 5 p.m., the driver, 48-year-old Tulare resident Eduardo Ruiz-Rosales came upon a curve in the roadway and turned sharply to the right when his vehicle drifted into the other lane, CHP Merced Officer Eric Zuniga said.

Ruiz-Rosales lost control of the truck, traveling off the road and overturning several times down steep embankment where the truck collided with several large trees, the CHP said.

Ruiz-Rosales suffered a minor laceration to the top of his head, Zuniga said. However, Contreras, who was identified Friday by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, suffered fatal injuries.

Both occupants wore seat belts and neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected as causes of the collision, Zuniga said.

This story was originally published August 3, 2018 at 9:30 AM.