Two killed, including a juvenile in suspected DUI crash in Merced County, CHP says
Two people were killed early Saturday morning in a suspected DUI crash in Merced County.
The incident was reported at 12:19 a.m. of a crash at Highway 165, south of Turner Avenue.
Officers responded to the crash and determined it was a two-vehicle head-on crash.
California Highway Patrol Sgt. Jim Yates said a Los Banos woman was driving a 2014 BMW SUV at a high rate of speed southbound on Highway 165, south of Turner Avenue. A 41-year-old man from Ceres was driving a 2016 Honda Accord with a juvenile at an unknown speed northbound on Highway 165, south of Turner.
For unknown reasons, the BMW failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, crossing over solid double yellow lines into the northbound lane of Highway 165 and crashed head-on into the Honda.
Both occupants in the Honda were pronounced dead. The BMW driver sustained major injuries and was taken to a Modesto hospital.
Yates said all occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.
The driver of the BMW was identified as 20-year-old Melissa Rosales. She was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter.
The crash is under investigation.
This story was originally published March 22, 2025 at 7:56 PM.
