Police vehicle involved in collision with pedestrian in Merced, CHP investigates

A collision involving a Merced Police Department Patrol vehicle and a pedestrian that occurred over the weekend is being investigated by the The California Highway Patrol.

Authorities said it appears male officer in a Merced Police Department patrol unit was exiting the parking lot at Golden Valley High School, Merced at about 5 p.m. Nov. 30 when the vehicle collided with a 24-year-old man on a scooter traveling south on the sidewalk along Parsons Avenue.

It appears the pedestrian was impacted with the right front fender of the patrol vehicle, CHP Officer Eric Zuniga said. The pedestrian was transported to Mercy Medical Center by ambulance as a precaution for complaint of pain to the knee.

Authorities said it does not appear the police officer was responding to a call at the time of the collision and the vehicle’s emergency lights and siren had not been activated. Zuniga said investigators are working to identify any possible video footage either from a dash cam or video surveillance of the of the area.

Nneither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor in the collision which remains under investigation, Zuniga said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the CHP Merced area office at 209-356-6600 and ask to speak with Officer Ramon Perez-Chavez.