Merced County Man Faces Charges of Murder, Hit-and-Run in Fatal DUI Collision
HILMAR, CA — “On September 5, 2025, at approximately 11:22 p.m., Merced Communications Center (MCC) advised of a traffic crash with an ambulance responding to the area of State Route 165 (Lander Avenue) and Third Street in the city of Hilmar, CA. Witnesses notified MCC and arriving Merced CHP units that a dark-colored Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck had struck the victim and continued southbound on SR-165 at a high rate of speed. A BOLO (Be On the Look Out) was immediately broadcast to assisting units and surrounding agencies. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and determined that the 64-year-old male had succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
At approximately 11:42 p.m., a Los Banos CHP sergeant located and stopped a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with front-end damage that was traveling southbound on SR-165 at Henry Miller Avenue. CHP Merced officers responded to the location and, after investigating, placed the driver, identified as Angel Ortega (40, Los Banos, CA), under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and felony hit-and-run.
During the investigation it was determined that Mr. Ortega was driving the Silverado pickup truck southbound on SR-165 (Lander Avenue) north of Third Street at a high rate of speed. The adult male pedestrian was walking westbound to cross SR-165. As the pedestrian was walking in the southbound lane, he appeared to see the oncoming pickup truck and attempted to run across the lanes. The front of the pickup truck struck the pedestrian, causing him to be propelled into the air and land on the east shoulder of SR-165. Mr. Ortega continued to drive at a high rate of speed southbound on SR-165 until he was stopped by law enforcement. As a result of the crash, the 64-year-old male pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene. Mr. Ortega was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and was arrested for murder, felony DUI, and felony hit-and-run. He was booked into the Merced County Jail on these charges.
This traffic crash is still under investigation, and it is unknown at this time if drugs and/or alcohol were a factor on the part of the pedestrian.
For media inquiries please contact Public Information Officer Eric C. Zuniga at (209) 356-6608. If anyone has information regarding this crash, you can contact Investigating Officer Salatiel Martinez at (209) 356-6600.”
