Merced County, CA (September 22, 2025) — A 65-year-old man from Atwater was killed Sunday evening in a solo vehicle crash on northbound State Route 99 near the State Route 152 split, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Madera Area Office.
The incident occurred around 7:35 p.m. on September 21. CHP officers responded to the scene after a call was received by the Merced Communications Center reporting a vehicle collision. Upon arrival, officers found that the man had been driving a silver Toyota Camry northbound on SR-99 when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle veered off the roadway and into the dirt median. The vehicle subsequently struck a tree.
Despite emergency life-saving efforts, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.
A 52-year-old woman, also from Atwater, was in the front passenger seat and sustained minor injuries. CHP confirmed that both occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
Authorities have not yet determined whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the incident. Toxicology results are pending.
The California Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation. In a statement, CHP urged drivers to stay alert on the road: “Don’t drive distracted. It only takes a split second of looking down at your phone, reaching for something, or turning your attention away from the road for tragedy to strike.”
