Hilmar man trying to pull into his driveway is killed in traffic collision
A Hilmar man was killed in a traffic collision in front of his home as he tried to pull into his driveway Monday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred on Lander Avenue in Hilmar, north of American Avenue, at about 5:40 p.m.
The man was identified by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office as 28-year-old James Merrifield. He had stopped his Honda Civic in the northbound lane of Lander, waiting to make a left turn into his driveway, when he was rear-ended by a tow truck.
The CHP said it is unknown at this time why the tow truck driver, 32-year-old Francisco Padilla Jr. of Turlock, failed to notice the stopped Honda. He was traveling about 35 mph at the time of the collision.
The impact pushed the Honda into the southbound lane of Lander, where it was hit by a big rig hauling tanks of molasses.
The tow truck continued north and collided with the tank trailer, severing a valve and causing molasses to be spilled onto the roadway.
Merrifield was taken to Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, where he died of his injuries.
Padilla suffered minor injuries. The big rig driver, 34-year-old Fabio Da Rocha of Denair, was not injured.
The CHP news release says neither Merrifield nor Padilla was wearing a seat belt.
No arrests were made at the time of the collision but it remains under investigation, according to the CHP.
This story was originally published December 6, 2022 at 11:42 AM.
