Atwater, CA – On March 16, 2025, at 4:10 am, Merced Communications Center (MCC) broadcasted a call of an ambulance responding to a crash on southbound State Route 99 north of the Westside Boulevard. Sincere Collins (22, Atwater, CA) was driving a GMC Acadia southbound on State Route 99 north of Westside Boulevard at an unknown speed. For unknown reasons Collins made an unsafe turning movement to the left causing the GMC to collide with the guardrail and come to rest on its wheels, blocking the #1 lane. A good Samaritan (Unknown male adult) pulled over in the center median to assist Collins and the other occupants of the GMC. At approximately 4:18 am, Yessica Partida (23, Merced, CA) was driving a Honda Civic within the #1 lane of southbound State Route 99 north of Westside boulevard, at an unknown speed. For unknown reasons, Partida did not see the disabled GMC in the lane and the left front of Honda crashed into the left rear of the GMC. At the time of the crash, the good Samaritan was standing near the right side of the GMC while attempting to assist the right front passenger. As a result of the crash, the good Samaritan was struck by the Honda. The GMC and Honda became disabled, blocking the southbound lanes of State Route 99, north of Westside Blvd. Unfortunately, the good Samaritan sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the investigation, an evaluation of both drivers was conducted and both drivers were found to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol (DUI) at the time of the crashes.
Collins was arrested for suspicion of DUI and transported to Memorial Medical Center for moderate injuries. Both passengers in the GMC sustained moderate to major injuries and were transported to Memorial and Doctors Medical Center.
Partida was arrested for suspicion of Felony DUI and was transported to Memorial Medical Center for moderate injuries.
Both traffic crashes are under investigation.
