Passenger flown to hospital after two-vehicle crash near Atwater, CHP says

A car passenger was flown to the hospital following a two vehicle crash on Santa Fe Avenue near Atwater on Wednesday.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Zuniga, officers responded to the crash at the intersection of Santa Fe Drive and Avenue Two at about 10 a.m..

Luis Montenegro, 65 of Winton, was driving a 1999 Toyota Solara eastbound on Santa Fe Drive with passenger Guadalupe Montenegro, 52, also of Winton, Zuniga said.

Meanwhile, James Macminn, 54, of Merced, was traveling westbound in a 2019 Ford F-150 and attempted to make a left turn onto Avenue Two.

According to Zuniga, Macminn turned directly into the path Montenegro and the Toyota collided with the right side of the Ford truck. Traffic on a nearby railroad was stopped until authorities were able to remove one of the vehicles.

Guadalupe Montenegro was flown by air ambulance to a hospital with moderate injuries. The drivers of the vehicles complained of pain and were not taken to the hospital according to Zuniga.

Authorities said neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor in the collision, which remains under investigation.