Ceres Man, Baby, Killed in Weekend Crash on Highway 132

VERNALIS – A 26 year old Ceres man and a baby just shy of a year old both lost their lives in a collision on Highway 132 Saturday afternoon.

The crash happened a few minutes before 1:00pm on Highway 132 east of River Road. CHP officers, firefighters, and medical personnel responded to the crash.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the Ceres man was driving eastbound in a Honda sedan when for unknown reasons he turned to the left, crossing over double yellow lines and sideswiping a Honda CRV. The sedan continued eastbound in the opposite lane where it struck a Toyota sedan head on. Officials at the scene noted gouge marks in the road, indicating the collision had occurred in the opposite lane.

The impact killed the driver of the Toyota at the scene. Two adults in the Toyota suffered injuries and were taken to memorial medical center by ambulance. The baby girl was airlifted from nearby Fisherman’s Club by helicopter to UC Davis Medical Center with major injuries, but unfortunately died Monday.

The child was in a safety seat, but not a rear facing one.

A second collision involving two other vehicles quickly occurred when a van had to quickly apply brakes to avoid the first collision. A Honda close behind rear-ended the van. Everyone in those vehicles were uninjured.

Highway 132 remained closed in both directions for a little more than two hours while officials investigated and cleared the road.