CHP says Good Samaritan allegedly killed by DUI suspect while trying to help after crash near Atwater.
A man was killed while he was trying to help a stranger in need near Atwater over the weekend.
28-year-old Abraham Bustos Guzman was hit by a car after he stopped to help a different driver who had crashed into a guardrail.
That’s when Abraham pulled over to check on the driver, 22-year-old Sincere Collins, and the passengers in the vehicle.
During that time, officers say another driver, 23-year-old Yessica Partida, crashed into the SUV and struck Abraham.
Investigators say both Partida and Collins are suspected of driving under the influence.
CHP – Merced Press Release
GOOD SAMARITAN KILLED BY SUSPECTED DUI DRIVER
Atwater, CA – On March 16, 2025, at 4:10 am, Merced Communications Center (MCC) broadcast a call with an ambulance responding to a crash southbound State Route 99 north of the Westside Boulevard. Sincere Collins (22, Atwater, CA) was driving a GMC Acadia southbound SR-99 north of Westside Boulevard at an unknown speed. For unknown reasons Collins made an unsafe turning movement to the left causing the GMC to collide with the guardrail and came to rest on its wheels blocking the #1 lane.
A Good Samaritan (Unknown male adult) pulled over in the center median and checked on Collins and the other occupants of the GMC. At approximately 4:18 am, Yessica Partida (23, Merced, CA) was driving a Honda Civic in the #1 lane of southbound State Route 99 north of Westside Boulevard at an unknown speed. For unknown reasons, Partida did not see the disabled GMC in the lane and the left front of Honda to collide with the left rear of the GMC.
The Honda then collided into the good samaritan that was standing by the right side of the GMC attempting to assist the right front passenger. Both vehicles became disabled blocking the southbound lanes of SR-99, north of Westside Boulevard. Unfortunately, the good samaritan sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the investigation, an evaluation of both drivers was conducted and both drivers were found to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol (DUI) at the time of the crashes.
Collins was arrested for suspicion of DUI and transported to Memorial Medical Center for moderate injuries. Both his passengers in the GMC sustained moderate to major injuries and were transported to Memorial and Doctors Medical Center.
Partida was arrested for suspicion of Felony DUI and was transported to Memorial Medical Center for moderate injuries.
Both traffic crashes are under investigation, for media inquiries please contact Public Information Officer Eric C. Zuniga at (209) 356-6608.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.