Turlock woman killed in accident near Hilmar

The California Highway Patrol is investigating a rollover accident that claimed the life of a Turlock woman near Hilmar early Friday.

According to the CHP, the accident was reported at Mitchell and Turner roads at 5:02 a.m. The intersection is southwest of Hilmar, near the Merced River.

CHP Officer Moises Onsurez said that when ambulance personnel arrived, they found a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer with three women inside.

Onsurez said the vehicle had been heading east on Turner when it missed a turn and went off the road, hit a tree and overturned.

The driver, a 32-year-old woman from Turlock, died at the scene. The Merced County Coroner’s Office identified her as Jessica Maria Barrera.

Tina Maria Garcia, 35, of Modesto, was taken by ambulance to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. Rose Maria Rivera, 40, of Modesto was flown to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto.

Neither Barrera nor Rivera wore a seat belt, Onsurez said.

Investigation into the incident was continuing; authorities did not know whether alcohol or drugs were a factor, Onsurez said.

This story was originally published March 20, 2015 at 7:40 AM with the headline "Turlock woman killed in accident near Hilmar."