Driver ejected, suffers major injuries in Merced County rollover crash near Stevinson

A man was taken to the hospital with injuries Tuesday following a rollover collision near Stevinson in Merced County.

Just before 7 a.m., California Highway Patrol officers responded to a report of a solo vehicle collision with injuries in the area of Van Clief Road and Highway 140, according to CHP officer Eric Zuniga.

Zuniga said the crash is believed to have occurred possibly several hours before a person in the area found the vehicle and called 911 to report the collision. Authorities said the vehicle was located an estimated 100 to 150 feet from the roadway and not visible from the road.

“It’s kind of isolated out there and the vehicle was well off the roadway,” said Zuniga.

Authorities said it appears Kevin White, 27, of Hilmar, was driving a 2004 Honda Accord southbound on Van Clief Road, north of Highway 140 at a high rate of speed.

For unknown reasons, the vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times. According to Zuniga, White was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle during the collision.

He was conscious when medical personnel reached the scene. White is believed to have been at the scene for several hours with major injuries to his lower body before first responders arrived.

White was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto with major injuries. According to Zuniga, DUI is suspected as a possible factor in the collision but the driver was not arrested or charged.

The collision remains under investigation.

This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 5:46 PM.