53-year-old Merced woman killed in two-vehicle crash ID’d by Madera coroner
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- Maria Iniguez, 53, died in a two-vehicle crash in Madera County Monday.
- CHP reports a 19-year-old driver fell asleep and caused the collision.
- Both drivers sustained minor injuries; no drugs or alcohol were involved.
Maria Iniguez, 53, of Merced was identified by the Madera coroner after she was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Monday.
The crash happened at 8:40 A.M. at Highway 233 at Robertson Boulevard and Avenue 22 in Madera County.
According to the California Highway Patrol, a 19-year-old Madera man was driving a white 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, southbound 233, north of Avenue 22 and a 46-year-old woman from Merced was driving a black 2015 BMW 320i, northbound 233, north of Avenue 22.
CHP said the driver of the Chevrolet, who claimed to have fallen asleep, drifted into the northbound lane, directly into the path of the BMW.
The man, CHP said, realized he was traveling the wrong way and swerved back into the southbound lane, while the woman took evasive action and swerved into the southbound lane, to avoid being hit by the Chevrolet. But the front of the Chevrolet collided with the right side of the BMW.
The Chevrolet overturned and came to rest on its left side. The BMW came to rest on its wheels, on the west dirt shoulder.
Iniguez, who was the front passenger in the BMW, was pronounced dead.
All passengers were wearing their seatbelts, CHP said. Both drivers sustained minor injuries, and the driver of the BMW was taken to Madera Community Hospital.
Alcohol and/or drugs were not a factor in this crash, CHP said.
