Mendota man dies after struck by WaveRunner on San Joaquin River

A Mendota man died on March 27 after he was hit by a WaveRunner while riding his own WaveRunner in the Mendota Slough of the San Joaquin River, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Spokesman Tony Botti said that Melvin Mendez, 25, was riding his WaveRunner and made an unsafe turn in front of another rider. That man could not stop and inadvertently hit Mendez, who was then helped out of the water by witnesses.

Emergency medical personnel rushed Mendez to the hospital, where he later died. He was wearing a life jacket, Botti said, but the crash severely injured him. His exact cause of death will not be released until toxicology testing is finished.

The other driver was cooperative with deputies and has not been charged with a crime.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Mendota man dies after struck by WaveRunner on San Joaquin River."