According to the Merced County Sheriff-Coroner's Office, Marrujo died in the crash that occurred around 10:20 p.m. on May 6 on northbound Highway 99, south of Atwater Boulevard.
Atwater, CA. – 24-year-old Spencer Marrujo of Inglewood was identified as the man who died in a crash involving a big rig and a pickup truck that happened earlier this month in Atwater.
According to the Merced County Sheriff-Coroner's Office, Marrujo died in the crash that occurred around 10:20 p.m. on May 6 on northbound Highway 99, south of Atwater Boulevard.
Authorities said Marrujo was driving a 1979 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a truck bed camper north on the highway when, for an unknown reason, the camper detached and came to rest in the No. 2 lane. The driver immediately stopped and parked in the No. 2 lane and exited the vehicle.
At the same time, a 2023 Kenworth big rig driver was driving in the same lane and did not see the camper and Marrujo in time. The big rig driver swerved to the left in an attempt to avoid hitting them, but the front of the big rig crashed into the camper and the man as he attempted to move it from the roadway.
First responders found Marrujo lying in the roadway and pronounced him dead at the scene.
A woman who suffered major injuries in the crash was airlifted to a local hospital in stable condition. It was unclear where the woman was at the time of the accident.
The big rig driver was also hospitalized with moderate injuries.
An investigation into the collision is ongoing.