CHP: Mercado-Ulloa Ran Stop Sign at Toomes and Covert, Killing 67-Year-Old Toyota Driver in Crash
SALIDA, CA, (July 10, 2025) - A 67-year-old man was tragically killed early Thursday morning in a suspected DUI hit-and-run crash in Salida.
A 67-year-old man was tragically killed in a hit-and-run and DUI crash Thursday in Salida. Luis Mercado-Ulloa has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal incident.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the victim was driving a Toyota southbound on Toomes Road and had stopped at the intersection with Covert Road around 3:41 a.m. when Luis Mercado-Ulloa allegedly ran a stop sign and struck the vehicle as it entered the intersection.
The impact fatally injured the Toyota driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Mercado-Ulloa reportedly fled but was located by officers about a mile from the crash site.
He now faces multiple charges, including felony DUI, hit-and-run, and vehicular manslaughter.
FATAL HIT-AND-RUN CRASH INVESTIGATION
In the aftermath of a serious crash, the law requires all drivers to remain at the scene and contact emergency services, as doing so can be vital in securing medical help for any victims involved.
Unfortunately, many drivers flee the scene due to intoxication, lack of a valid license, or fear of arrest. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 4 million people were involved in hit-and-run accidents from 2018 to 2022, with over 12,000 resulting in fatalities.
California leads the nation in fatal hit-and-run incidents, with 10.1% of its deadly crashes between 2012 and 2021 involving a fleeing driver—amounting to 3,348 out of 33,252 total fatal collisions.
Candice Bond, a skilled hit-and-run accident attorney, emphasized the importance of a thorough legal review in such cases.
“Having the proper resources is crucial to investigate a hit-and-run accident case and prove negligence,” said Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. “Road conditions, signage visibility, and lighting must all be closely analyzed. These steps are critical in helping families seek justice and fair compensation after losing a loved one to a hit-and-run driver.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the results of the investigation, the family of the 67-year-old victim killed in this tragic crash may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Such claims may allow surviving family members to seek compensation for the loss of companionship, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the fatal incident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. “We understand just what families are forced to go through, and having their rights protected is vital. A wrongful death attorney will stay closely involved with the official investigation and work to ensure that the family’s legal rights and best interests are safeguarded.”
If you or a family member has been affected by a similar incident, national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation. Use the contact information provided on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
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