Turlock woman dies in head-on crash in Merced County, CHP says
A 21-year-old Turlock woman was killed in a head-on crash in Merced County on Thursday morning, the California Highway Patrol said.
The crash happened at about 8:30 a.m. in foggy conditions on Oakdale Road, just east of Fisher Road, according to CHP Merced Officer Eric Zuniga.
The CHP’s investigation determined the woman was driving a Toyota Prius east on Oakdale Road at an unknown speed and tried to pass another vehicle.
The Prius hit a Chevy Suburban driven at 50 mph by a 45-year-old Merced man, who had three juvenile passengers.
The man tried to swerve out of the way, Zuniga said, but the vehicles collided head-on.
The man and his juvenile passengers suffered minor to moderate injuries and were transported to Mercy Medical Center in Merced, Zuniga said.
Zuniga emphasized that drivers should slow down and turn on their lights during foggy conditions. He also suggested leaving 10 to 15 minutes early to arrive at your destination.
“Just be patient,” Zuniga said. “It’s absolutely not worth it.”
The CHP said alcohol and/or drugs did not appear to be a factor in the crash.
This story was originally published February 5, 2026 at 11:31 AM.
