Fatal head-on crash in Merced County leaves one dead, another seriously injured, CHP says
One man was killed and another was injured Friday after a head-on crash in Merced County.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash happened at 2:11 a.m. in the area of Santa Fe Drive, west of Avenue 2 involving a 2006 BMW sedan and a 2012 Chevy sedan.
According to the CHP, a 20-year-old Planada man was driving his BMW in the No. 1 lane of eastbound Santa Fed Drive, west of Avenue 2 at an unknown rate of speed. An Atwater man was driving his Chevy in the No. 1 lane of westound Santa Fed Drive, west of Avenue 2 at 45 mph when for unknown reasons the BMW suddenly veered to the left and directly in the path of the Chevy sedan.
Both vehicles collided head-on within the No. 1 westbound lane of Santa Fe Drive, west of Avenue 2. CHP said the BMW driver was not wearing his seatbelt and was pronounced dead. The other driver had major injuries and was airlifted to a Modesto hospital.
The injured driver was not under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and was cooperative with officers.
The cause for the crash is under investigation.
The fatal is the second in about a week at Santa Fed Drive and Avenue 2.
On Feb. 27, one person was killed and two people were seriously injured. A 26-year-old Winton man was pronounced dead.
