UPDATE: Ceres man arrested for DUI after head-on crash south of Hilmar, CHP says
A 47-year-old Ceres man has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a head-on collision south of Hilmar on Thursday morning, the California Highway Patrol said.
Albert Azevedo was driving a 2008 Nissan Altima north on Highway 165 just north of Turner Road when he let his vehicle drift into the southbound lane, according to Eric Zuniga, public information officer for the Merced-area CHP.
Azevedo’s Altima collided head-on with a Hyundai Genesis driven by a 33-year-old from Delhi. The identity of that driver was not released. The crash occurred at around 5:20 a.m., Zuniga said.
Both drivers, who were driving 55 mph at the time, had no passengers, Zuniga said.
The drivers of both vehicles suffered minor to moderate injuries and were transported to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. Azevedo was not wearing a seatbelt; the driver of the Hyundai was.
The roadway was blocked but was cleared at around 6:43 a.m.
Zuniga stressed the importance of not drinking and driving, especially during the holiday season.
This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 9:24 AM.
