Two Killed in Highway 99 Car Accident
Officers from the California Highway Patrol received a phone call about a head-on collision at approximately 4:54 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. Unfortunately, the accident turned out to be fatal and ended two young lives too soon.
What Happened?
The accident took place along the southbound lanes along Highway 99 close to the Westside Boulevard exit and the off-ramp for Sultana Drive in Livingston. Sixty-three-year-old Michael Farmen, of Fresno, was driving southbound on Highway 99 in his Dodge Ram pickup truck. The Merced County Coroner’s Office identified the two occupants of the Lexus ES 300 as 41-year-old Windly Soza from Atwater and her son, Adrian Soza. For unknown causes, Soza was driving her Lexus when she drifted her vehicle over the center median of the freeway and into the lanes of oncoming traffic. The collision caused the Dodge Ram to overturn. The Dodge Ram then struck the passenger side of the Lexus. Sadly, the passenger in the Lexus was ejected from the vehicle as a result.
What Types of Injuries?
The driver of the Dodge Ram sustained minor injuries. Vern Warnke, a Sheriff from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, transported the motorist of the Dodge Ram to his residence in Fresno. Due to the impact of the collision, the driver and the passenger passed away.
What Caused the Accident?
It is still too soon to determine the exact cause of the accident. Authorities are still investigating whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
Traffic Mayhem
Due to the collision, authorities closed off the second and third lanes of the highway. For this reason, it caused traffic mayhem on the freeway in both directions on this tragic day.
Guardrail Placed Along Fatal Crash Site
Caltrans is in the process of adding a guardrail to the median of Highway 99 from Winton Parkway in Livingston to Atwater to prevent future fatal accidents such as this one. More information about the Livingston Highway 99 project can be viewed here.
Merced Auto Accident Attorney
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Photo Source: Wiki Media Commons – CHP_Police_Interceptor_Utility_Vehicle.jpg
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