On March, 9th,2018, at around 8:40A.M, the Merced Police Department responded to the area of “R” Street and Santa Fe Railroad tracks for reports of a train v. vehicle. When officers arrived they located a 2011 Nissan Maxima that was struck by an east bound Amtrak Train.

After the Nissan Maxima was struck by the Amtrak train, the Nissan Maxima spun through the railroad crossing arms into a 1995 Subaru. The Subaru was stopped facing north on “R” Street for the down railroad crossing arms.

Through the investigation, officers were able to determine the railroad crossing arms were down and functioning properly. The Nissan Maxima, driven by Jason Newman (41, Merced) drove south on “R” Street around the down railroad crossing arms. The Amtrak train struck the right side of the Nissan Maxima sending the vehicle into a spin. The Nissan Maxima went through the north bound “”R” Street crossing arms and struck the stopped 1995 Subaru, driven by Mitchell Whitehead (54, Merced).

The Nissan Maxima had a passenger, Shayne Morales (34, Merced), seated in the front passenger seat. Morales and Whitehead were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. Newman only received minor injuries and was treated and released at the scene.