Merced man dies after crashing vehicle into Bear Creek, CHP says
A 45-year-old Merced man has died after crashing his vehicle into Bear Creek, according to the California Highway Patrol.
At about 4:50 p.m. on Monday the Merced Communications Center received a report of a possible vehicle submerged in the creek at South Bear Creek Road, east of Piedmont Drive.
CHP officers and emergency personnel found the vehicle overturned onto its roof and fully submerged, a CHP Merced Facebook post said.
The driver appeared to have been submerged for an extended period of time and was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
A CHP investigation determined the man was driving a 2002 Toyota Avalon westbound on South Bear Creek Road at an unknown speed. For unknown reasons, he veered off the road and overturned into the creek, CHP said.
No other vehicles were involved, CHP said. CHP said it does not know when the man crashed.
It is unknown whether alcohol and/or drugs were factors in the crash. The investigation into the incident continues, CHP said.
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 9:46 AM.
