Major injury crash during foggy conditions in Merced County under investigation, CHP says

Authorities are investigating a major injury crash that occurred during foggy conditions over the weekend in Merced County.

California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Zuniga said at about 5:40 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 officers responded to a head-on collision along State Route 165 south of Williams Avenue. Authorities said it appears an 18-year-old Modesto man was driving a 2000 Honda Accord south on State Route 165, attempted to pass a vehicle sideswiping a 2017 Dodge Ram and crashing head-on with a 2024 GMC Sierra before overturning.

Authorities said foggy conditions resulted in about 50 feet of visibility at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Honda was transported by ambulance to Memorial Hospital with major injuries. The driver of the GMC, believed to be a 58-year-old Los Banos man and his 39-year-old male passenger, also from Los Banos, were both transported to Doctors Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries. ‘

The CHP said neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor in the crash. Zuniga said the cause of the collision remains under investigation and visibly may have been a factor.

Authorities urge motorists to exercise caution and patience when driving in foggy conditions. Zuniga said one of the most important things motorists can do is slow down during conditions of poor visibility.

“If you’re driving in the fog, always manually turn on your headlights because you also want to turn the rear lights on so you can be visible from the rear,” said Zuniga.

Authorities caution motorist to not stop on the roadway except for an emergency and if possible exit the roadway to a safer location. Zuniga said it is important to plan ahead and it is also recommended to avoid driving during foggy conditions, waiting until the fog lifts if you able to do so.

“Leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead of you,” said Zuniga. “And always anticipate hazards ahead.”

Anyone experiencing an emergency is advised to call 911.

Motorists can find information on current roadway conditions by visiting the website roads.dot.ca.gov, or by calling 1-800-427-7623.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Merced are CHP Office at 209-356-6600 and ask for Officer Adrienne Araiza.