Merced County coroner identifies teenage driver who died after crashing into canal

Javier Delgado Garica has been identified by the Merced County Sheriff’s Coroner’s office as the teenager who died of injuries following a vehicle crash into a Merced County canal on Feb. 15.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to the crash in the area of Snelling and Youd roads at about 7 p.m. Feb. 15. The initial investigation showed Garcia, 17, was driving at an unknown speed northbound on Snelling Road with a 16-year-old female passenger in a 2016 Nissan Altima. the vehicle veered to the left and traveled off the roadway and through a fence before crashing into a canal where the car became submerged , authorities said.

Cal Fire rescue crews along with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Dive and Rescue team responded to the crash and extricated both Garcia and the female passenger from the submerged vehicle. Garcia and his passenger were transported to Mercy Medical Center in Merced. Garcia was thenflown to Valley Children’s Hospital. Garcia died of his injuries the following day, officials said.. The condition of the female passenger is unknown.

Authorities said the cause of the crash is under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact CHP officer Abdiel Enriquez at 209-356-6600.

This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 2:07 PM.