On January 17, 2024, approximately 2:17 am, Merced Communications Center (MCC) advised of a traffic crash with an ambulance responding to the area of Santa Fe Drive north of Bradbury Road. The call came in as a solo vehicle into a utility pole. CHP Merced officers responded and arrived on the scene at approximately 2:36 am. Upon arrival medical personnel advised that the driver was unable to be extricated due to live power lines on top of the vehicle. Turlock Irrigation District (TID) was requested on expedite and they were able to shut down the power line. Medical personnel immediately rendered aid to the adult male driver, however he succumbed to his injuries sustained in the traffic crash.
During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the 30 year old male out of Ballico, CA was driving a 2002 Toyota Camry northbound on Santa Fe Drive, north of Bradbury Road at an unknown rate of speed. For unknown reason, the driver allowed the Toyota to travel off the east road edge and crashed into the utility pole and chain link fence. The driver was wearing his seat belt at the time of the traffic crash. It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs are a factor to this traffic crash. No other parties or vehicles were involved in this traffic crash.