Two arrests made in injury crashes involving alleged DUI in Merced County, CHP says

Two arrests were made during the weekend in separate Merced County crashes believed to be caused by drunken drivers, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The first crash involved 20-year-old Shayla Gardenia Jaimes of Delhi, who officers said was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 99 near Shanks Road, Officer Eric Zuniga said.

Driving a 2009 Toyota Corolla, she sideswiped a 1998 Dodge Durango before colliding head-on with a 2007 Nissan Altima driven by Jesus Venegas Vargas of Turlock, CHP said.

Both cars spun into the center median, CHP said. Jaimes is expected to be arrested after she’s released from the hospital, where’s she’s being treated for a broken pelvis, CHP said.

Venegas Vargas was taken to Memorial Medical Center with rib injuries, CHP said. His passenger, 32-year-old Brenda Torres, suffered a broken leg and was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. His 7-year-old son, who was riding in the back seat, suffered a broken jaw and facial lacerations, and was taken to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, officers said.

The second crash happened at about 5:50 a.m. on westbound Merced Falls Road east of Highway 59, CHP said, where for unknown reasons a Honda Civic left the roadway and struck a tree.

The 18-year-old driver, Fabian Michael Cervantes of Merced, reported minor injuries and was arrested for suspicion of felony DUI, CHP said.

An 18-year-old in the front passenger seat, Miriam Edith Willis, was determined to have broken ribs, a broken leg and facial lacerations, CHP said. A 17-year-old in the back seat suffered broken teeth. Neither passenger appeared to be wearing a seat belt, CHP said.

This story was originally published July 29, 2018 at 3:57 PM.