Wrong-way crash on Highway 99 near Atwater results in major injuries, CHP says
A head-on crash involving two drivers suspected of DUI resulted in major injuries near Atwater early Sunday morning.
At about 12:48 a.m., Merced CHP officers were called out to the scene of head-on crash involving a wrong-way driver on southbound Highway 99 north of Atwater Boulevard.
The incident involved two vehicles and caused numerous serious injuries, according to a CHP news release.
Multiple patients, including juveniles, were evaluated and taken to hospitals, the CHP said.
The CHP’s preliminary investigation revealed that Diane Rivas, a 35-year-old from Antioch, was driving a 2019 Honda Civic the wrong direction in the No. 1 lane of southbound Highway 99 at about 40 mph.
Humberto Orozco Cervantes, a 33-year-old Merced resident, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox south in the No. 1 lane at about 65-70 mph when the vehicles collided.
Three juveniles were transported to Children’s Medical Center in Madera with moderate to major injuries.
One woman was transported to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, and a second woman was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. Both had major injuries.
The news release did not reveal which vehicles the passengers were riding in.
Both drivers were determined to be under the influence of alcohol and were arrested on suspicion of DUI, the CHP said. The news release did not say if either suffered injury.
Anyone with information about the incident can call Investigating Officer Michael Nires at 209-356-6600.
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 1:19 PM with the headline "Wrong-way crash on Highway 99 near Atwater results in major injuries, CHP says."
