Major injury collision near Hilmar spills grapes onto Highway 165, CHP reports

Authorities are investigating after a Merced County major injury collision sent a woman to the hospital and spilled grapes on Highway 165..

California Highway Patrol officers at 1:47 p.m. Saturday responded to the scene of the two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 165 and Williams Avenue, according to CHP Officer Eric Zuniga.

Authorities said Zoe Maria Canto, 20, of Atwater, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado east on Williams Avenue. Officers determined Canto stopped at a posted stop sign before continuing into the intersection, failing to yield for a 2015 Freightliner pulling two trailers of grapes southbound on Highway 165 by Ruben Sicairos, 56, of El Centro.

Zuniga said the front of the Freightliner collided with the driver’s side of the Chevrolet causing the truck to overturn. Canto, who CHP believe was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision, was ejected from the vehicle into the roadway.

The Freightliner also overturned after the collision, spilling grapes across the roadway. Authorities said Canto suffered major injuries in the collision and was taken to Doctors Medical Center for treatment. Sicairos did not sustain any injuries.

According to Zuniga, as officers investigated the collision they located a large amount of marijuana, hashish, and psilocybin inside the Chevrolet. The CHP said that due to the injuries sustained in the collision, no arrest was made and a complaint will be filed with the Merced County District Attorney’s Office.

A section of Highway 165 remained closed for about three hours as authorities worked to clear the scene.