1 farmworker killed, 7 injured in hit-and-run crash in Merced County, CHP says
One farmworker was killed and seven were injured in a hit-and-run collision west of Los Banos in Merced County on Thursday morning.
The crash in Central California was reported just before 5 a.m. when a white 2001 GMC Safari van was traveling north on Interstate 5 and approaching the Highway 152 off-ramp.
The California Highway Patrol said the van was coming from Mendota in Fresno County and was slowing to merge onto westbound 152 when it was allegedly rear-ended by a big rig.
The impact caused the van to collide with the guardrail on the eastside of the highway. The van went through the guardrail, overturned down on an embankment and landed on its roof on eastbound 152 where it passes beneath I-5.
One of the passengers was ejected and pronounced dead, CHP said.
Three other passengers sustained major injuries and were taken to a local hospital.
Four more passengers were wearing seatbelts and had minor injuries, CHP said.
At least four weren’t wearing a seatbelt, CHP said.
The ages of the victim and passengers ranged from 19 to 30, and all were men.
CHP said the farmworkers were headed to the Hollister/Salinas area to work. The van was registered to the driver.
CHP described the white big rig as a 2002-2008 International that reportedly continued west towards the Gilroy/Hollister area.
The collision is under investigation.
Last April, seven farmworkers in a van were killed in a head-on collision in nearby Madera County.
The fatal crash involved a Chevrolet truck and a GMC van that collided on Avenue 7 near Road 22.
All of the victims were men who were headed to Firebaugh to work.
This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM.
