Diane Rivas Arrested in Highway 99 DUI Head-On Crash [Merced County, CA]

Merced County, CA (April 28, 2026) – Two drivers, Diane Rivas, 35, and Humberto Orozco Cervantes, 33, of Merced, were arrested following a Highway 99 DUI crash early Sunday morning.

It was past 1 a.m. when the head-on collision happened on the southbound freeway, north of Atwater Boulevard.

According to the authorities, a 2019 Honda Civic driven by Rivas was traveling the wrong way while a Chevrolet Equinox driven by Orozco Cervantes was driving in the correct direction.

As a result, the two vehicles collided head-on in the number one lane.

Two women with major injuries and three juveniles with moderate to major injuries were transported to an area hospital. 

Later on, the authorities arrested Rivas and Orozco Cervantes on suspicion of DUI.

Driving under the influence is not a mistake; it is a choice with consequences that ripple far beyond the driver. Alcohol and drugs slow reaction time, blur judgment, and turn a vehicle into a weapon. Families lose loved ones, communities lose trust, and futures are shattered in seconds. Prevention is simple: plan a ride, designate a sober driver, or stay where you are. Laws exist to protect us, but responsibility begins with each person. Choose safety over convenience, life over risk, and accountability over excuses. One decision can save lives—make the right one every time for yourself and those around.

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