Woman killed in Santa Fe Drive collision near Atwater identified by Merced County Coroner

The Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has identified a driver killed in a multi-vehicle collision on Santa Fe Drive near Atwater as Araceli Juarez, 52, of Winton, according to Merced County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Michelle Oliver.

According to the California Highway Patrol, officers responded to the collision at 5:17 p.m. Nov. 15, in the area of Santa Fe Drive and Avenue Two.

According to authorities, Juarez was driving a 2015 Nissan sedan eastbound on Avenue Two. The CHP said it appears she attempted to make a left turn onto Santa Fe Drive directly in front of a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser driven by a Merced man traveling southbound on Santa Fe Drive.

The front of the Toyota collided with the front of the Nissan, sending the Nissan into a 2018 BMW stopped in the Santa Fe Drive left turn lane and driven by an Atwater woman. Juarez was pronounced dead at the scene and neither of the other two drivers involved reported any injuries, according to the CHP.