KEYES – An adult and a child from Parlier were ejected and seriously injured Saturday evening in an alcohol-related crash on Highway 99, the California Highway Patrol reported.
According to CHP Public Information Officer Tom Olsen, the crash took place at 9:58 p.m. when Christopher Frias, 26 of Parlier, was driving southbound in a 2000 Chevy SUV in the middle lane as he approached the Keyes Road overpass. Frias made an unsafe lane change to the left, colliding with the left rear of a 2019 Mercedes driven by Manuel Guillen, 39, of Delhi. Frias’ SUV went out of control and overturned in the center media, ejecting front seat passenger Erica Armenta, 27, of Parlier, and rear seat passenger, Mia Juarez, 2, also of Parlier.
Armenta was rushed to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto with major injuries while the child was airlifted to the U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento with major injuries.
Frias was taken to Doctors Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries. He was then arrested by the CHP and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for felony DUI, felony child endangerment and a misdemeanor of being an unlicensed driver.
Guillen was reportedly not injured.