Two adults, 3-month-old girl killed in Merced County collision; driver arrested, CHP says

The Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has identified three people killed in a head-on collision in Merced County on Friday.

They are Nicholas Leyva, 67, Maria Leyva, 69, and 3-month-old Celeste Leyva, according to Deputy Michael Domingue.

At about 11:10 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers and Gustine Police officers responded to the collision in the area of Highway 140 and Kniebes Road, according to CHP Officer Shannon Stiers.

Authorities said 40-year-old Robert Pimentel II, of Newman, was driving a 2002 Ford Explorer pickup east on Highway 140, east of Kniebes Road, when the vehicle traveled onto the south dirt shoulder. The CHP said it appears Pimentel made a corrective maneuver and lost control of the vehicle which traveled into the oncoming lane where it collided head-on with a 2001 Ford Expedition with seven occupants.

According to the CHP, the collision caused the Expedition to overturn, partially ejecting one of the passengers. The 67-year-old driver of the Expedition and the 69-year-old right front passenger, believed to be his wife, were pronounced dead that the scene. According to Stiers, the three-month-old girl was transported by paramedics and ultimately pronounced dead.

The four other passengers in the Expedition were transported to local hospitals for treatment of major and minor injuries. According to the CHP, Pimentel was transported to a Modesto hospital for treatment of major injuries and arrested on suspicion of felony DUI, according to Stiers.

A GoFundMe page has been created for the family, with money going toward funeral and memorial expenses.

The collision remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the California Highway Patrol at 209-826-3811.

This story was originally published October 16, 2023 at 6:33 PM.