Authorities Identify Drivers Killed in Fatal Interstate 5 Crash in Merced County!
Authorities have identified the two drivers involved in a tragic, fiery crash that took place on Interstate 5 in Merced County.
The Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has confirmed that the drivers were 58-year-old Juan Jose Cosio Gomez from San Jose and 18-year-old Kristopher Rose from Pleasant Hill.
The crash occurred in the early morning hours of October 30 and resulted in the tragic loss of both drivers.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), officers responded to a report of a head-on collision in the southbound lanes of I-5, near Volta Road, at approximately 12:51 a.m.
The CHP investigation suggests that a 2008 Honda Accord, which was traveling northbound, unexpectedly veered off its lane for reasons that remain unknown.
The vehicle crossed the dirt median and ended up in the southbound lanes, where it collided head-on with a 2017 Isuzu box truck.
The impact was severe, and both vehicles came to a stop in the middle of the southbound lanes of I-5. Following the collision, both the Honda Accord and the Isuzu truck caught fire, leading to a closure of both southbound lanes of the interstate for just over an hour.
Fire crews arrived quickly at the scene to control and extinguish the flames, but both drivers were tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
CHP officers and fire department responders worked to clear the area, with one southbound lane remaining closed until approximately 6:30 a.m. The authorities confirmed that both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and officials are looking into all possible factors that may have contributed to this tragic incident.
This deadly crash marks a somber moment on Interstate 5, and officials continue to investigate to understand the circumstances that led to the accident.
Families, friends, and community members affected by the tragic loss await further details as authorities look for answers.