Fatal Highway 152 crash victim identified by Merced County Coroner

The Merced County Coroner’s Office has released the name of a driver killed in a multi-vehicle traffic collision that injured two others, on Highway 152 west of Los Banos last week.

According to Deputy Daryl Allen, Samuel Balbas, 40, of Madera County, died in the crash Jan. 14.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Balbas was driving a 2006 Volkswagen westbound on Highway 152, west of Highway 33. For unknown reasons the vehicle crossed the center median and overturned before entering the eastbound lanes, where it was struck by a big rig, the CHP said.

Authorities said the impact caused Balbas to be ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle came to rest in the center median and was fully engulfed in flames, the CHP said.

The driver of the big rig was taken to Modesto Memorial Medical Center with major injuries. A third driver, whose car was struck by the Volkswagen’s front axle following the collision with the big rig, was taken to Los Banos Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, according to authorities.

This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 1:54 PM.