Infant Dies in Multi-Vehicle Crash on Highway 132 in Vernalis
An 11-month-old infant from Ceres was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center and died the following day after a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 132 near Vernalis on September 21, 2024. Driver Jairo Renteria-Colchado, 26, also died at the scene. CHP investigators said Renteria-Colchado had illegally crossed double yellow lines when making a left turn, triggering a sideswipe and head-on collision involving five vehicles. Three others were injured. All occupants were wearing seat belts.
Incident Summary
Crash Area
What Happened on Highway 132 Near Vernalis
After 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024, a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 132 near Vernalis in Stanislaus County left two people dead and three others injured. CHP Officer Thomas Olsen stated that Jairo Renteria-Colchado, 26, from Ceres, made a left turn while partially crossing double yellow lines, which caused his vehicle to sideswipe one oncoming vehicle and then collide head-on with another. The chain reaction involved five vehicles in total.
Renteria-Colchado died at the scene. An 11-month-old infant from Ceres was in a forward-facing car seat in one of the other vehicles. Emergency crews airlifted the infant to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where the child died the following day. Three other occupants across the involved vehicles sustained injuries. All occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash — a detail noted in the CHP’s initial reporting.
CHP investigators were also looking into whether substance impairment played a role in Renteria-Colchado’s decision to cross the double yellow lines. No final public determination on that question was located in the reporting reviewed for this article.
The Legal Dimensions of a Child Fatality in a Traffic Crash
The death of an infant in a traffic crash is one of the most devastating outcomes a family can face. California law provides a specific legal framework for families in this situation. Parents of a child killed through another party’s negligence are among the class of eligible plaintiffs who may file a wrongful death lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60.
A wrongful death claim for the loss of a child can include compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of the child’s anticipated financial contribution over their lifetime, and loss of companionship, love, and guidance. California courts have recognized the profound nature of these losses even in cases involving young children with no immediate financial contributions, because the relationship itself carries legally recognized value.
The crash was caused by an illegal left-turn maneuver crossing double yellow lines — a clear traffic violation. If substance impairment is confirmed, that finding could support both a stronger negligence case and potentially a punitive damages claim in the civil proceedings. A wrongful death attorney can evaluate the full scope of the family’s options as the CHP investigation concludes.
Highway 132 Crash Context and Child Safety Data
Legal Options for Families After a Child Fatality in a California Traffic Crash
Frequently Asked Questions
No Family Should Face the Loss of a Child Alone — and Without Legal Counsel.
Parents who lose a child in a traffic crash caused by another driver have legal rights that deserve to be fully pursued. Scranton Law Firm handles wrongful death cases for Central Valley families on contingency — no fees unless we win.
100% Confidential · No fees unless we win