Driver killed in Highway 59 head-on collision in Merced County, CHP says

Authorities are investigating a Merced County collision which left one man dead and sent another man to the hospital with injuries on Saturday.

At about 8:32 p.m., officers responded to the scene of a two-vehicle head-on collision on Highway 59 just north of Freitas Avenue, according to Officer Eric Zuniga.

Authorities said a 2001 Mercedes sedan was traveling northbound on Highway 59 north of Freitas Avenue when the vehicle veered into the southbound lane colliding head-on with 2018 Dodge Ram.

According to Zuniga, the driver of the Mercedes was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not released. The driver of the Dodge, Angelo Machado, 53, of El Nido, suffered minor to moderate injuries in the collision and was transported to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for treatment.

Zuniga said the crash remains under investigation.