Body found in overturned vehicle near Snelling identified as missing Merced man

A man found dead in an overturned vehicle near Snelling last week has been identified by the Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office as 63-year-old Steven Roach of Merced, according to Deputy Daryl Allen.

Merced police Lt. Emily Foster said Roach had been reported missing on March 24 by a close friend. Police said the friend reportedly had regular contact with Roach and hadn’t heard from him for a couple of weeks.

Roach was located at 10:21 a.m. April 27, after a Merced County Sheriff’s Office helicopter pilot advised the California Highway Patrol of an overturned vehicle in the area of Snelling Road and Highway 59, according to authorities.

The vehicle, a 2000 Toyota Camry, was observed on its roof about 200 to 300 feet north of the intersection.

When Cal Fire units arrived on scene they found Roach’s body in the vehicle. The CHP conducted an investigation, saying they believe Roach had been driving the Toyota northbound on Snelling Road approaching the intersection with Higheway 59 at a high rate of speed.

For unknown reasons, the vehicle continued through the intersection and traveled up a dirt and rock embankment overturning onto its roof.

The CHP said that due to the location of where the vehicle came to rest, it was not visible from the roadway.

The date and time of the collision is unknown but the vehicle is believed to have been in the location for more than a week, according to the CHP.

This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 12:15 PM.