3 injured in Merced County crash

Three people were injured late Saturday on Highway 99 near Atwater, including a woman who suffered a “partially amputated finger” and a teenager who was not wearing a seat belt, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Maria Enriquez, 53, of Turlock suffered major injuries to her left hand and complained of neck pain. A 13-year-old Turlock boy was thrown toward the rear of the vehicle and also complained of neck pain. His injuries were described as “moderate,” CHP officers said in a news release.

Both were flown to Modesto hospitals.

Maria Rocha, 56, of Turlock suffered unspecified minor injuries and was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Merced, officers said.

Updates on their conditions were not available Sunday.

Officers said all three were traveling together around 10:15 p.m. Saturday in a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe, heading north on Highway 99 at about 65 mph.

Enriquez, the driver, “made an unsafe turning movement,” just south of Buhach Road, the CHP said. The vehicle spun out of control, weaving between both lanes of traffic before moving to the right shoulder. The vehicle overturned, landing on its left side, investigators said.

No other vehicles were involved, and no other injuries were reported.

Neither drugs nor alcohol was believed to have been factors, officers said.

The cause of the collision remained under investigation Sunday.

This story was originally published June 7, 2015 at 1:38 PM with the headline "3 injured in Merced County crash."