Ceres baby dies from injuries sustained in multi-vehicle collision on Highway 132

An 11-month old baby who was badly injured in a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 132 on Saturday afternoon died the following day, according to Officer Thomas Olsen of the California Highway Patrol.

The child was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center with major injuries after the collision. A preliminary investigation showed the child was in a car seat, but it was facing forward. Child safety seats need to be rear facing until a child is at least 2 years old, The Bee previously reported.

The baby, a girl from Ceres, was the second death caused by the collision. A 26-year-old Ceres man, Jairo Renteria-Colchado, died at the scene. Three others were injured.

The five-vehicle collision was reported at about 1 p.m. near Vernalis. An initial CHP investigation showed Renteria-Colchado turned left and partially crossed the double yellow lines. His Honda sedan sideswiped a 2012 Honda SUV before it went into the westbound lane, where it collided head-on with the 2021 Toyota sedan in which the child was riding.

Highway 132 was closed but reopened a couple of hours later.

It was unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision, according to a CHP release. All individuals involved were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

As of Monday afternoon, there were no further updates on the collision.