Search for brother of Oakdale rodeo contestant comes to tragic end in Merced County
The brother of an Oakdale Rodeo contestant who was reported missing has been identified as a man who was found dead on Highway 99 in Merced County earlier this month.
Oakdale police responded to the Oakdale Rodeo grounds on April 8 for a report that 37-year-old Kevin Green of Oklahoma was missing.
He was traveling the rodeo circuit with his brother Jodi Green, who did calf roping, according to their mother. Authorities said Jodi told officers Kevin had been riding in the horse trailer. Jodi thought he was still there when the trailer arrived in Oakdale some time late the night of April 7 or early the morning of April 8 but he never actually saw him.
At 12:20 a.m. April 8, California Highway Patrol officers in Merced County found the body of a man who had been hit by multiple vehicles on northbound Highway 99 near Delhi in Merced County.
On Wednesday the man was identified as Kevin Green, according to Oakdale Police.
Chief Jerry Ramar said on Thursday he is certain Green never made it to Oakdale. How he ended up on the highway remains under investigation by the CHP, Ramar said.
CHP Officer Eric Zuniga said Thursday the crash is being investigated as a hit and run. He said the drivers of multiple vehicles stopped after reportedly running over Green but they were not responsible for the initial impact.
Kevin’s mother, who flew to California to look for her son, could not be reached for comment.
This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 11:39 AM.
