What Happened?
On August 13, 2026, an 83-year-old Delhi woman died following a head-on collision on Sycamore Street, north of Bloss Avenue, in Merced County, according to the California Highway Patrol. A 33-year-old Turlock man was arrested after authorities say he is suspected of driving under the influence and fleeing the scene on foot.
CHP Merced Area reported that the Merced Communications Center received word of a head-on crash involving a Chevrolet SUV and an Audi SUV at approximately 9:47 a.m. on Sycamore Street, north of Bloss Avenue. When officers arrived, they determined the collision was a hit-and-run involving major injuries. Witnesses told officers the driver of the Audi had left the vehicle and run north on foot toward Augusta Avenue.
CHP officers, assisted by the Merced County Sheriff's Department, searched the area of Augusta Avenue and Sycamore Street. Authorities located a man in a nearby orchard who identified himself as 33-year-old Jose Perez Hernandez of Turlock, and CHP said he was later confirmed to be the driver of the Audi.
According to CHP's preliminary investigation, Hernandez was driving the Audi southbound on Sycamore Street, north of Bloss Avenue, at a high rate of speed. At the same time, an 84-year-old Delhi man was driving a Chevrolet Equinox northbound on the same road at approximately 40 miles per hour, with an 83-year-old Delhi woman riding in the right front passenger seat. CHP said the Audi crossed into the northbound lane for reasons that remain under investigation and collided head-on with the Chevrolet.
Following the collision, Hernandez exited the Audi and fled north on foot before being located by law enforcement, according to CHP. The 84-year-old driver of the Chevrolet was transported to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto with moderate injuries. The 83-year-old passenger was transported to Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock with major injuries and later died from her injuries, according to CHP.
CHP said Hernandez was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Merced for medical clearance before being booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of felony DUI and felony hit-and-run. The crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact CHP Investigating Officer Michael Afferino at 209-356-6600.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a head-on crash in California, contact DC Law Group at (310) 571-8860 for a free consultation about your legal rights and options.
Why Are Head-On and DUI Crashes on Rural Central Valley Roads So Dangerous?
Head-on collisions are among the most violent types of traffic accidents because the closing speed between two vehicles is the sum of their individual speeds. On two-lane rural roads such as Sycamore Street in Merced County, where there is no center median separating opposing travel lanes, a driver who drifts across the center line puts oncoming traffic at immediate risk. When one vehicle is traveling far above the posted speed, as CHP's preliminary report indicates, the force of the impact and the likelihood of catastrophic injury increase substantially.
A driver who is under the influence of alcohol is more likely to speed, weave across lane markings, and misjudge the distance or speed of oncoming vehicles. Impairment slows reaction time, reduces coordination, and impairs the judgment a driver needs to keep a vehicle within its own lane. When a crash occurs and the suspected driver flees the scene, the decision to run can also destroy evidence that would otherwise help investigators determine exactly how the collision happened and who was at fault.
For passengers and drivers involved in these collisions, the injuries can range from fractures and internal trauma to catastrophic and fatal harm. Emergency medical crews and CHP officers treat every head-on collision as a high-priority incident, often closing the roadway while they document the scene, photograph the position of each vehicle, and interview witnesses.
What Legal Options Exist After a Fatal DUI or Hit-and-Run Crash in California?
When a loved one dies in a crash caused by another driver, California law generally allows the surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. This can include a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, a driver who was speeding or who crossed into oncoming traffic, and, in a hit-and-run case, a driver who fled the scene after the collision. A wrongful death action can seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses, the value of the financial support the deceased would have provided, loss of companionship and consortium, and other damages that the law recognizes.
If a surviving family member was injured in the same crash, there may also be a personal injury claim for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. In a case where the at-fault driver left the scene, the driver may still be identified through witness accounts, the vehicle's identifying information, and the investigating officer's report, which is one reason prompt preservation of evidence matters.
Acting quickly after a crash can help protect a family's legal rights. Evidence such as skid marks, the final position of each vehicle, traffic or dashcam video, and the condition of the road can disappear quickly, and witnesses' memories can fade. An experienced California personal injury attorney can help identify all potentially responsible parties, request that the involved vehicles be preserved and inspected, obtain the CHP accident report, and guide a family through the legal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the fatal crash occur?
The crash happened on Sycamore Street, north of Bloss Avenue, in Delhi, Merced County, California.
When did the crash happen?
The head-on collision was reported at approximately 9:47 a.m. on August 13, 2026, according to the California Highway Patrol.
What vehicles and people were involved?
A Chevrolet SUV driven by an 84-year-old Delhi man, with an 83-year-old Delhi woman as a passenger, collided head-on with an Audi SUV. The Audi was later determined to have been driven by 33-year-old Jose Perez Hernandez of Turlock.
How did the crash happen?
According to CHP's preliminary investigation, the Audi was traveling southbound on Sycamore Street at a high rate of speed before crossing into the northbound lane and colliding head-on with the Chevrolet. The exact cause of the lane departure remained under investigation.
Did the driver of the Audi flee the scene?
Yes. CHP said witnesses reported the driver of the Audi fled on foot before being located by authorities in a nearby orchard. The driver was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and felony hit-and-run.
What were the injuries?
The 84-year-old driver of the Chevrolet was transported with moderate injuries. The 83-year-old passenger was transported with major injuries and later died from her injuries, according to CHP.
Can a family file a wrongful death claim after a fatal DUI or hit-and-run crash?
Possibly. California law may allow a wrongful death claim against a driver whose negligence contributed to the crash, including a driver suspected of driving under the influence or one who fled the scene. Prompt investigation and legal guidance can help establish who may be responsible.
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