Gustine, CA (February 7, 2026) — More than a week after Lupita Lizbeth Zúñiga Ontiveros, 21, went missing following a late-night dune buggy crash into the Delta-Mendota Canal near Gravel Pit Road, her family continues to search the area while pleading for clarity, communication, and continued effort. Standing along the canal where Lupita was last seen, relatives say the uncertainty has been unbearable and that the responsibility of keeping the search alive has increasingly fallen on them and the community.
“This is where she fell in,” said her uncle, Cesar, pointing toward the water. “This is the last place anyone saw her.”
Lupita, a Stockton resident and mother to an infant daughter, left home on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 28, telling family she would return before midnight so she could be with her baby. When she did not come home and stopped responding to messages, concern quickly grew.
“That wasn’t like her,” said her cousin Evelyn. “She always checked in. Always.”
Family Says They Were Not Notified by Authorities
According to Cesar and Evelyn, the family did not learn about the crash through law enforcement. Instead, they say Lupita’s friends eventually told them there had been an accident.
“We thought they were taking us to a hospital,” Evelyn said. “We never imagined they would bring us here and tell us she fell into the canal.”
Cesar said the family immediately began calling hospitals across the region, hoping Lupita had been transported for medical care. When those calls led nowhere, they were directed to the California Highway Patrol and given a case number, but no confirmation of Lupita’s identity.
“We didn’t know where she was,” Cesar said. “We didn’t know who was in charge. We didn’t know anything.”
Shock at the Search Scene
When the family arrived at the canal, Cesar said what they saw was devastating.
“There was nobody here,” he said. “No officers, no fire department, no search going on. Nothing.”
As days passed, the family said they were told that search efforts had reached an exhaustion point and that authorities would need to wait for conditions to change.
“That’s not something you tell a family,” Cesar said. “Just because they consider it a recovery does not mean the search has to stop.”
Evelyn said the uncertainty has been one of the hardest parts.
Community Volunteers Take Over the Search
With official search activity limited by environmental conditions, Lupita’s family said the community organized volunteer-led efforts along the canal and surrounding areas. Evelyn estimated that at the height of the effort, nearly 300 volunteers participated, searching canal banks, nearby fields, and access points, with many returning day after day.
“These are people who don’t even know us,” Evelyn said. “They’re here because they care.”
Cesar said volunteers coordinated searches, stationed individuals at gates and access points, and covered multiple miles of terrain along the canal.
“If it weren’t for the community, nobody would be out here,” he said.
On the day this newspaper visited the search area, community-led efforts were ongoing. Volunteers were observed walking the canal banks, operating drones, and monitoring access points. One individual was observed traveling along the canal path on a one-wheel electric device while scanning the area. Family members said these volunteer searches have continued daily as they wait for additional official recovery efforts.
During those community searches, the family said a black jacket believed to belong to Lupita was found near the canal and turned over to authorities.
In a public Facebook post, volunteer recovery diver Juan Heredia addressed the situation, stating that he was out of the country at the time Lupita went missing but felt compelled to speak after learning of the circumstances. Heredia wrote that being unable to assist while the family searched was “incredibly frustrating,” and expressed gratitude for the support of hundreds of volunteers. In the post, he urged broader coverage of canal access points and downstream areas, writing that volunteers should be stationed “from where the ATV was pulled out all the way 20–30 miles downstream.” Heredia also commented on the use of remotely operated vehicles with sonar, stating that in his experience such equipment has limited range and effectiveness in fast-moving canals, particularly after the initial days following an incident. He wrote that authorities should consider allowing professional recovery divers with proven experience to assist in future cases, emphasizing that his comments reflected his personal experience in water recoveries.
City Council Meeting and Questions About CHP Presence
As search efforts continued, members of Lupita Ontiveros’ family attended a Gustine City Council meeting to publicly ask questions about the investigation, search efforts, and the lack of communication they said they were experiencing. Family members said representatives from the California Highway Patrol were not present at the meeting.
Evelyn said the family attended the meeting because they were unsure where else to turn and said CHP was not present to answer questions.
Cesar said the family asked who was in charge of the investigation and what steps were being taken.
In response, CHP Lt. Robert J. Daniels said CHP was not aware of the city council meeting, and was not notified of the request to attend. He said that had CHP been informed of the meeting, a representative would have been present.
CHP Responds and Explains Investigation
In a recorded interview, CHP Lt. Robert J. Daniels said the California Highway Patrol is the lead investigative agency because the incident involved a vehicle crash.
“Because it’s a crash, CHP investigates,” Daniels said.
He explained that the Merced County Sheriff’s Office responded the night of the crash and assisted with search and rescue operations, including deploying a dive team, helicopters, and drones, and that the sheriff’s office also took the missing persons report. Daniels acknowledged that having multiple agencies involved can be confusing for families seeking information.
Daniels addressed why Lupita’s family was not immediately notified, stating that officers did not yet have a confirmed identification of the missing person.
“We’re not going to reach out to a family unless we know for sure,” Daniels said. “We don’t want to cause unnecessary heartache.”
According to Daniels, multiple agencies responded the night of the crash, including CHP, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, the Gustine Police Department, fire crews, and specialized resources. He said drones equipped with thermal imaging were deployed, helicopters flew the canal, and dive teams were requested once they could be assembled, noting that specialized teams take time to respond during overnight hours.
“The family may not always see us,” Daniels said. “But we are searching.”
Daniels said dive teams have scanned downstream areas of the canal, including several miles south of the crash site, and that CHP officers assigned to western Merced County are instructed to check the canal whenever possible. He noted that staffing is limited.
“We have about three to four officers covering the west side of the county during a shift,” Daniels said.
He explained that those officers are responsible for Interstate 5, multiple state routes, and unincorporated county roads, and must also respond to freeway crashes and emergency calls, which can pull them away from canal patrols.
Daniels said environmental conditions inside the canal significantly restrict search operations once a person is submerged.
“The current is strong, the visibility is extremely limited, and the water is deep,” he said.
“If she was outside the water, I believe she would have been found,” Daniels added.
Addressing questions about why private or volunteer divers have not been allowed to assist, Daniels said law enforcement does not have the authority to permit access to the canal.
“We don’t own the canal,” he said. “We can’t give people permission to enter property we don’t control.”
He said the canal is believed to be federally operated and managed by a water authority, and that allowing unauthorized access would raise serious safety and liability concerns.
Addressing Rumors and Case Status
Daniels also addressed speculation circulating online, stating that based on the evidence reviewed so far, there is no indication of foul play.
“This was a tragic vehicle crash,” he said.
He confirmed that three occupants exited the vehicle and one did not, and that when the vehicle was recovered, Lupita was not inside.
Family’s Focus Remains on Finding Lupita
As the search continues, Lupita’s family said they are sharing details of her disappearance in the hope that someone with the authority or ability to help will see it. During the interview, the family was asked what they would say if someone watching had the power to assist or move the search forward. In response, Cesar said the family is not focused on assigning blame.
“We’re not trying to blame anyone,” he said. “We’re trying to find her.”
As of publication, Lupita Lizbeth Zúñiga Ontiveros remains missing. The California Highway Patrol said the investigation and search efforts are ongoing within the limits of jurisdiction, available resources, and environmental conditions.
Evelyn said the family hopes that continued attention will help lead to answers.
“She deserves to be found,” she said.
Family members said they continue to meet daily near 3347 Gravel Pit Road to organize volunteer search efforts along the canal and surrounding areas. Those wishing to participate are encouraged to arrive prepared for outdoor conditions and to follow directions provided by family organizers on site. The family said search times and coverage areas may change depending on conditions.
Editor’s Note / Reporting Note: This article is based on on-scene interviews conducted on February 6, 2026, with Lupita Ontiveros’ family at the search area near the Delta-Mendota Canal, and on a statement provided by the California Highway Patrol on February 7, 2026.
