19-year-old Killed in Fatal Crash

The coroner has identified the 19-year-old who died in a collision on Tuesday morning in Merced. 

The deadly crash took place at the intersection of Westside Boulevard and Sultana Drive around 4 a.m. 

According to reports, a vehicle overturned after crashing into an orchard. 

As a result, Gutierrez was pronounced dead at the scene and an additional occupant was rushed to a local hospital. 

Investigators are actively working to determine what may have led up to the collision.
JT Legal Group sends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Meliton Gutierrez. 

Studies show that about 20% of motor vehicle fatalities are caused by a vehicle veering off the roadway and hitting a fixed object. Among these fixed objects, trees, traffic barriers, and utility poles are most common. 

Approximately half of these types of accidents occur at night time. Another interesting fact is that in 2019, studies found that a majority of these deaths took place from July to September.