Authorities identify driver killed in fiery Merced County crash near Delhi

A Merced County Sheriff’s Office vehicle. Merced Sun-Star file image.

Allen Maldonado, 39 of Delhi has been identified by the Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office as the driver of a vehicle who died in a fiery crash near Delhi on Oct. 27, according to Deputy Michael Domingue.

A Merced County Sheriff deputy on patrol noticed a vehicle that was on fire in an orchard along El Capitan Way east of Sycamore Street near Delhi at about 3 a.m., authorities said. It appears the man was driving a 1998 Ford Ranger when the vehicle left the roadway and struck multiple trees in the orchard before catching fire, the The California Highway Patrol said.

Cal Fire personnel responded to the scene to extinguish the fire and Maldonado was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact CHP Officer Ramon Perez at 209-356-6600.