Jamee Chargualaf Killed in Fatal Crash on Interstate 5 near Highway 140 in Merced County
Man Killed in Merced County Crash Identified as Jamee Chargualaf on Interstate 5 near Highway 140
Merced County, California (January 10, 2020) – Police have revealed the identity of a man killed in a Merced County crash in the early morning hours on Wednesday.
24-year-old Jamee Chargualaf of Hanford died following a fatal collision that took place on Interstate 5, just south of Highway 140, at around 12:35 a.m. Wednesday, January 8.
The CHP authorities said a 54-year-old Sun City man was traveling in a 2014 Volvo semi-truck trailer northbound in the right lane of Interstate 5 when he allowed his truck to cross over the median for unknown reasons.
The big rig then entered the southbound lanes of the highway, and it sideswiped a 2013 Peterbilt semi-truck. The Peterbilt was reportedly carrying a tanker with 8,600 gallons of gasoline.
The impact caused the Volvo to crash head-on into a 2004 Lexus ES330 driven by a 24-year-old man of Lemoore. The tanker overturned on the right shoulder of the interstate and spilled an unknown amount of gas following the crash.
Chargualaf, riding as a passenger in the Lexus, suffered fatal injuries in the collision. Chargualaf was reportedly wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Another Lexus passenger, identified as 21-year-old Lemoore man, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time, along with the Lexus driver suffered severe injuries due to the crash.
The Volvo driver suffered minor injuries as a result of the accident.
The Peterbilt operator was unhurt in the collision.
Authorities closed southbound lanes of Interstate 5 to give way to a clearing operation.
An investigation is ongoing.
