Hazardous materials storage where woman died in fuel tank investigated by Merced County

The storage of hazardous materials on a property where one woman died and another injured after entering an underground fuel tank in Merced County is under investigation by the Merced County Environmental Health.

Merced County Division of Environmental Health documents show the owner of the property was notified on Oct. 8, of four Class I Health and Safety Code violations in regards to the spillage and storing of hazardous materials or waste including an unpermitted underground storage tank, which was allegedly used for an illegal fuel storage operation.

The investigation comes after a Sept. 23 incident when the Merced County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of two people trapped inside an underground fuel tank at a property in Delhi. According to deputies, 32-year-old Mayra Minchaca Torres, 32, of Delhi, died after she and another woman entered the fuel tank to reportedly rescue a calf that had fallen inside.

Authorities said they believe the women were overcome by hazardous fumes and a lock of oxygen inside the confined space. Deputies and Cal Fire crews extracted the women from the tank. The second woman pulled from the tank was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Her condition is unknown at this time.

The sheriff’s office said the women successfully rescued the calf from the tank which was ultimately euthanized on scene due to its condition. Merced County Animal Services seized two other calves from the property that were found to be malnourished, according to authorities.

Documents show the county’s investigation revealed a 500-gallon above ground storage tank as well as five 275-gallon totes used to transport fuel. Additionally, there were eight 55-gallon plastic drums used to store unknown hazardous substances.

According to an Office of Emergency Services Hazardous Materials report, the office was notified by Merced County Environmental Health on Oct., 7, 2024. The document indicates the spillage of human error led to 50 gallons of gasoline being spilled on the property on Sept. 23 and lists the cause as because of human error. The document goes on to state that the spillage occurred during the transfer of stolen gasoline from a 275 gallon tote to an unpermitted 1,500 gallon underground storage tank.

The spill impacted the soil and sand around the tank and the document stated a contractor was being scheduled to handle the clean up. No waterways were affected by the spill. .

This story was originally published November 25, 2024 at 12:38 PM.