Victim in Hwy 165 head on collision ID’d as 44-year-old Los Banos woman

Three others also from Los Banos injured

On January 11, 2023, at approximately 3:30 pm, Merced Communication Center (MCC) received a report of a head-on injury traffic crash in the area of SR-165, south of Westside Boulevard.  It was raining and the roadways were wet at the time of this incident. Upon arrival to the scene, California Highway Patrol (CHP) Merced Area officers determined this to be a two-vehicle head on crash with multiple major injuries.

The 44-year-old Dodge driver identified by Merced County Coroner’s Office as Stacy Wiley (born April 12, 1978) of Los Banos, was transported by air-med to Doctor’s Medical Center, Modesto CA. She was later pronounced deceased by medical staff at the hospital for her injuries sustained at the traffic crash.

Preliminary investigation determined that a 17-year-old female driver out of Los Banos, CA was driving a 2003 Honda Accord on northbound SR-165, south of Westside Boulevard at an unknown rate of speed.  The 44-year-old female out of Los Banos, CA was driving a 2010 Dodge Caliber on southbound on SR-165, south of Westside Boulevard at an unknown rate of speed. For unknown reasons, the 17-year-old female lost control of the Honda and allowed her vehicle to crossover onto the southbound lane of SR-165 and directly in the path of the Dodge Caliber. Both vehicles collided head on within the southbound lane of SR-165, south of Westside Boulevard. The force of the initial impact caused the Dodge to overturn.

As a result of the crash, both drivers and rear passenger (Isaac Loretto of Los Banos) of the Honda sustained major injuries.  The front passenger of the Honda (Heidi Garcia of Los Banos) sustained minor injuries and refused medical treatment. The 17-year-old Honda driver was transported by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center, Merced CA for major injuries to her legs. Mr. Loretto was transported by ambulance to Doctor’s Medical Center for major injuries to his head/upper body.

There is no indication that alcohol and/or drugs was a factor to this traffic crash. The cause for the crash is still under investigation.  The California Highway Patrol would like to remind all motorists to please slow down and increase following distance during inclement weather.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.