Search for woman missing after dune buggy crash continues in Merced County
Authorities in Merced County continue to search for a woman missing after the dune buggy she was riding crashed into a canal west of Gustine.
The dune buggy, driven by a 21-year-old Patterson man, crashed into the Delta-Mendota canal early Wednesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The driver, Elixandro Naranjo Miranda, fled the scene but was eventually arrested on felony hit-and-run and other charges.
According to a CHP investigation, Miranda was driving the dune buggy on the canal bank just after midnight and crashed due to poor visibility. He had three passengers: one man and two women.
The man and one of the women suffered moderate injuries and were taken to an area hospital .
The other woman, identified by ABC30 as 21-year-old Lupita Ontiveros, remains missing as of Friday afternoon.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office has been using dive teams, extra patrols and air units to search the area where they believe the woman could be, according to Merced County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexandra Garcia. The CHP has also been involved in the search, Garcia said.
The teams recovered the dune buggy.
The current in the area where the crash occurred is strong, Garcia said.
“It’s a pretty big area where she can possibly be in there,” Garcia said. “We’ll continue to search as long as possible.”
