15-year-old boy killed in Merced County crash identified as Hilmar High student

The teenager killed in a traffic collision Sunday near Delhi has been identified by the coroner’s office as Luke Mancebo, 15.

Officers responded to the area of West Bradbury Road and East Clausen Road just before 4:30 p.m Sunday for a report of a collision involving a big rig and a motorcycle, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Mancebo, a resident of Delhi, was riding a Yamaha motorcycle north on Flower Street approaching West Bradbury Road, when he passed through a stop sign at the intersection, CHP reported.

Mancebo was then struck on the motorcycle by a big rig crossing the intersection driving eastbound on West Bradbury Road. Mancebo was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said the driver of the big rig is cooperating with the investigation. According to the CHP, Mancebo was not wearing a helmet and neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor in the collision.

Hilmar High School posted about Mancebo on its Facebook page Monday.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the loss of our Yellow Jacket, Luke Mancebo,” the post reads.

“Luke has the undeniable ability to light up a room with his larger than life personality. He had a kind heart and a love for others that exemplified what Hilmar High School is all about. He will be an unspeakable loss to our campus and community as a whole. As some would say, he was a friend to everyone. Luke was truly a unique young man and his energetic personality will be missed by so many of us,” the post says.

This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 11:53 AM.