Authorities say crash that killed 19-year-old man in Merced remains under investigation

The Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has identified a driver killed in a Merced traffic collision earlier this month as 19-year-old Tyler Minor of Merced, according to Deputy Michael Domingue.

At about 5:39 p.m. Oct. 12, officers responded to a report of a collision with injuries at Glenn Avenue and East 21st Street, according to Merced Police Sgt. Nathan McKinnon. Officers arrived on the scene and found Minor pinned inside the vehicle. According to McKinnon, officers were not able to detect a pulse and Minor was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Minor was driving a white 2014 Acura ILX southbound on Glenn Avenue at the same time Jonathan Ceja, 20, of Merced, was driving a 2013 gray Toyota Camry east on East 21st Street. McKinnon said police are still working to investigate the incident as it appears one of the vehicles may have run a red light.

Police said they are also continuing to investigate whether Ceja was under the influence at the time of the collision.

“Throughout the investigation when officers were out there, they determined there were indications that drug use could have been involved,” McKinnon said. Ceja was transported to a local hospital with leg injures, and a 22-year-old female passenger was flown to an area hospital with abdominal pain, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding the collision is asked to contact officer McKeeman at 209-388-7752.

This story was originally published October 31, 2023 at 11:32 AM.