Woman killed after attempting to run across Highway 99 near Livingston, CHP says

A woman was killed early Wednesday morning after she tried to run across lanes of traffic and was struck by an SUV, officers with the California Highway Patrol’s Merced office reported.

According to CHP Officer Eric Zuniga, officers responded to Highway 99 south of Sultana Drive at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The woman and a male occupant were traveling in a vehicle southbound on Highway 99. The driver pulled the vehicle over to the right shoulder of the road. It’s still under investigation which of the vehicle’s occupants were driving.

For unknown reasons the woman exited the vehicle and ran across the southbound lanes of traffic. She jumped over the median and attempted to cross the northbound lanes when she was struck by an SUV driven by a 48-year-old Merced woman, according to Zuniga.

A witness pulled the woman out of the roadway. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the CHP, the SUV’s driver cooperated with officers and DUI is not a factor in the crash.

Zuniga said authorities are trying to find out what caused the woman to run across the highway. Anyone with information can call CHP’s Merced Communications Center at 209-356-2900. Tips are confidential and you can remain anonymous.

This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 2:31 PM.