1 Killed in DUI Car Accident on Highway 99 near O Street in Merced

Merced, California (March 7, 2023) – A big rig driver was killed in a collision involving a suspected DUI driver on Monday night in Merced.

The fatal crash on southbound Highway 99 near O Street at around 11:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

An SUV driver was attempting to pass a big rig on a narrow right shoulder when the vehicle got wedged between the big rig and the guard rail.

The impact of the collision caused the big rig to jackknife before overturning on a steep embankment.

The big rig driver was pinned inside the cab and had to be extricated by the first responders. The unidentified man was pronounced dead at the accident scene.

The SUV driver, 35-year-old Anthony Carrasco of Ceres, was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Additional information about the accident was not provided.

An investigation into the accident is underway.