Driver and passenger killed in collision with big rig in Merced County, CHP says

Two people were killed Tuesday in collision with a tractor-trailer west of Gustine, the California Highway Patrol reported.

At about 2:14 p.m., Los Banos area CHP officers responded to a two-vehicle collision involving a big rig at the intersection of Interstate 5 and Highway 140. According to CHP Officer Shannon Stiers, a 2011 Hyundai Sonata driven by a 68-year-old man with a 66-year-old female passenger, both from Las Vegas, Nev., was traveling north on the Interstate 5 off-ramp before stopping at a posted stop sign at the intersection with Highway 140.

Authorities said 40-year-old Brett Cico of Delhi was driving a 2020 Peterbilt east on Highway 140, approaching the intersection with the Interstate 5 off-ramp. For unknown reasons, the Hyundai entered the eastbound Highway 140 lane of traffic directly in the path of the Peterbilt, the CHP said.

The front of the Peterbilt collided with the front left side of the Hyundai. The collision caused major damage to the Hyundai, which came to rest on the north shoulder of Highway 140. The Peterbilt sustained moderate damage and came to rest on the south shoulder of Highway 140.

Both the driver and passenger in the Hyundai died at the scene, according to the CHP. Cico was not injured in the collision.

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