CHP - Merced

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CHP - Merced This is the official CHP Merced Area Facebook account. For emergencies, call 9-1-1. For questions call CHP Merced at (209) 356-2900 Your insights are important.

Social Media Terms of Service

The purpose of the California Highway Patrol’s social media pages is to share news and information regarding the activities, policies and programs of the Department and its employees. We encourage discussion and comments on posts. If you have an emergency, immediately call 9-1-1. Please do not use social media to report criminal activity or an emergency incident. The opinions expressed by visitors to this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the CHP. Comments

Due to the fact these pages are public and possibly visible to persons of all ages, we expect participants to show respect, civility, and consideration to each other. Therefore, comments will be removed if they:

- Contain personal attacks against any member of the public or an employee of the Department.

- Promote or advertise services or products.

- Contain abusive, profane, or vulgar language.

- Contain sexual content, overly graphic, disturbing, obscene or offensive material, or material that would otherwise violate the law if published on this site.

- Hate speech targeting one of more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of an individual or group: disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Employees of the CHP will not edit public comments to remove objectionable or inappropriate content, so please ensure that comments comply with this policy if you would like it to remain posted. The CHP recognizes that social media tools are available 24 hours a day, and we welcome comments at any time. However, given the need to manage resources, the moderation and posting of comments will occur during regular business hours, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time, or when possible. Comments submitted after hours or on weekends or holidays will be read and posted as soon as possible if they meet the aforementioned criteria; in most cases, this will mean the next business day.

​​Privacy

To protect your personal privacy and the privacy of other persons, The CHP recommends that people do not include personally identifiable information, such as full name, Social Security number, phone numbers, addresses, or e-mail addresses in the body of their comments. If comments include personally identifiable information, it may not be posted. Note: The CHP or any of its members will not ask for your personal information via any social networking site either through the official California Highway Patrol’s social media pages, nor any social media page maintained by any other unit or person employed by the CHP, for any official use by the Department. Contact

Members of the public should be aware that information shared through this site may be subject to release to people who request it through the Freedom of Information Act. Please note that communications made through social media channels will not constitute legal or official notice or comment to the CHP or any official or employee of the CHP for any purpose. While it was necessary for the CHP to impose these restrictions, it doesn't mean that we don't want to hear from members of the public. The CHP encourages feedback - both positive and negative - and we want to hear your ideas and opinions. You can contact the CHP by visiting http://www.chp.ca.gov. Disclaimer for Advertisements and Links

As you visit the CHP’s social media pages, please note the information provided on these pages and the links to other related websites or pages are provided as a courtesy to visitors only. They are in no manner an endorsement, recommendation, or approval of any person, any product, or any service continued on any other website. The CHP does not endorse or support any of the advertising that may be contained on our social media pages nor on any of the pages of any linked site.

We have a paranormal situation at CHP Merced.Apparently, a few ghosts showed up for Halloween, took over our patrol cars...
10/31/2026

We have a paranormal situation at CHP Merced.

Apparently, a few ghosts showed up for Halloween, took over our patrol cars, commandeered the dispatch center, and somehow ended up on the schedule. The calls are still being answered, officers are still responding, and one of these ghosts is already asking about overtime.

The ghosts have things covered here, but we’ve got one request for everyone heading out tonight, slow down in neighborhoods, watch for trick or treaters, and keep an eye out for little monsters crossing the street. If you’re heading to a Halloween party, plan for a sober ride home.

It’s Saturday. It’s Halloween. Have fun, make good choices, and please don’t give our dispatchers any more scary stories to tell.

Happy Halloween from CHP Merced!

10/30/2026

Some scares are part of Halloween. Dangerous driving shouldn’t be one of them.

As you head out tonight, remember to slow down, watch for trick-or-treaters, stay alert, and never drive impaired.

This Halloween, keep the scares off the road.

FOCUSING ON SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY IN LOS BANOSThis morning, officers from several law enforcement agencies came together in...
10/28/2026

FOCUSING ON SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY IN LOS BANOS

This morning, officers from several law enforcement agencies came together in Los Banos for a County Integrated Traffic Enforcement (CITE) operation focused on keeping students and motorists safe.

Following a briefing at the Los Banos Police Department, officers headed into school zones and other high-traffic areas identified through community concerns and collision data. The focus was on dangerous driving behaviors, particularly during the busy morning school drop-off.

By the end of the operation, officers had issued more than 90 citations, along with verbal warnings.

Whether you’re dropping off your children or simply passing through a school zone, slow down, put away distractions, and watch for pedestrians. Getting somewhere a few seconds faster is never worth putting someone’s safety at risk.

Today wasn’t goodbye, just see you later.Sergeant Nelda Banuelos delivered her final briefing at CHP Merced as she prepa...
10/28/2026

Today wasn’t goodbye, just see you later.

Sergeant Nelda Banuelos delivered her final briefing at CHP Merced as she prepares for her promotion to Lieutenant at CHP Headquarters, Office of Media Relations.

There were some tears, plenty of laughs, and stories shared as we celebrated someone who has meant so much to our Area.

Sergeant Banuelos never forgot what it meant to take care of her people. She always had her officers’ backs, put them first, and made sure they knew they mattered. That’s the kind of leadership you don’t forget, and neither will we.

As much as we hate to see her go, we couldn’t be happier for her. Headquarters is gaining an incredible leader, and we know she’s going to do great things.

Congratulations, Lieutenant Banuelos! We’ll miss you more than you know, but we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way. You’ll always have a home here in Merced.

THIS IS WHY STOP SIGNS MATTER.CHP Merced officers responded to a two vehicle collision near 3rd Avenue and McCullagh Roa...
10/24/2026

THIS IS WHY STOP SIGNS MATTER.

CHP Merced officers responded to a two vehicle collision near 3rd Avenue and McCullagh Road. Both vehicles sustained significant damage, but thankfully, only minor injuries were reported.

Broadside collisions can be some of the most violent crashes we respond to, and the damage in these photos speaks for itself.

When approaching a stop sign, come to a complete stop, look both ways, and make sure the intersection is clear before proceeding. Never assume another driver will stop or yield.

Those few extra seconds could save a life.

Anyone missing a white Toyota Tacoma?Officers Saeteurn and Partida were dispatched to this crash this morning. From what...
10/24/2026

Anyone missing a white Toyota Tacoma?

Officers Saeteurn and Partida were dispatched to this crash this morning. From what we’ve gathered so far, it appears the crash happened sometime overnight, and the truck was left behind.

Just a reminder, if you’re involved in a crash, you have certain responsibilities under California law. Depending on the circumstances, that includes exchanging information, notifying law enforcement, and making arrangements for your disabled vehicle.

We’re still trying to piece together what happened here. Judging by the condition of the truck, it was quite a night.

Three community events, one busy Friday for CHP Merced!Friday was one of those days that reminded us just how much we en...
10/24/2026

Three community events, one busy Friday for CHP Merced!

Friday was one of those days that reminded us just how much we enjoy getting out into the communities we serve.

We started the morning at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, where we were honored to attend the Law Enforcement Mass alongside fellow law enforcement officers and first responders from throughout our area. It was a special opportunity to come together with those who dedicate their lives to serving and protecting our communities.

Next stop was Starbucks in Atwater for the Special Olympics Northern California Badges with Buckets fundraiser. Our officers joined fellow law enforcement personnel to collect donations and support some incredible athletes. A big thank you to everyone who stopped by, made a donation, or showed their support!

We finished the day helping with Buhach Colony High School’s first-ever Homecoming Parade. It was great seeing the students, families, and community come together for what we hope becomes a long-standing tradition. And we have to give a shoutout to the beautiful vintage fire engine that helped make the parade even more memorable!

We spend plenty of time on the road responding to calls and enforcing traffic laws, but days like Friday give us a chance to connect with our community in a different way. We genuinely enjoy being part of these events, catching up with familiar faces, and meeting new ones.

Thank you to everyone who made Friday such a great day. We look forward to seeing you at the next community event!

A 911 call in California. A person in crisis more than 5,000 miles away in Ireland. And one CHP dispatcher who wasn’t ab...
10/21/2026

A 911 call in California. A person in crisis more than 5,000 miles away in Ireland. And one CHP dispatcher who wasn’t about to give up.

At 1:24 a.m. on July 14, CHP Public Safety Dispatcher Chad Lascheck answered a 911 call from someone desperately worried about a friend who was experiencing a mental health crisis.

There was just one problem. That friend was in the County of Westmeath, Ireland.

Most people wouldn’t know where to begin. Chad got to work.

He attempted to contact the Irish Embassy in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., but couldn’t get through. Rather than stop there, he reached out to INTERPOL, explained the situation, and provided the information needed to get authorities involved overseas.

At 4:33 a.m., just over three hours after the initial call, Chad received word from INTERPOL that Irish police had located the individual and determined that a mental health evaluation was necessary.

A call that started in California had reached someone halfway around the world.

We often recognize the officers who respond to emergencies in person, but the men and women answering 911 calls are just as much a part of the lifesaving work happening every day.

Chad, thank you for reminding us that compassion doesn’t stop at jurisdictional boundaries, and that sometimes the person making the biggest difference is someone you’ll never meet.

There’s another important part of this story worth remembering. Someone was worried about a friend and made the decision to reach out for help. That phone call set everything in motion.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of su***de or experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

You never know how far one phone call might reach.

Thank you to INTERPOL for their role in helping bring this situation to a safe intervention.

From CHP Explorer to CHP Officer!Last Friday was a special day for the CHP Merced Area and our Post 460 Explorer Program...
10/20/2026

From CHP Explorer to CHP Officer!

Last Friday was a special day for the CHP Merced Area and our Post 460 Explorer Program as we watched one of our own, Juan Silvar, graduate from the CHP Academy and officially become Officer Silvar.

Juan first expressed interest in our Explorer Program in July 2023. By March 2024, he was an Explorer Cadet, and in July 2025, he earned a promotion to Explorer Sergeant.

Juan was the kind of Explorer we could always count on. He rarely missed a meeting, volunteered at community events, helped recruit new members, and was always ready to represent our post at competitions. Whatever we needed, Juan was there.

Over the years, we had the opportunity to watch Juan grow, not just as an Explorer, but as a person. Last year, we celebrated his college graduation. Last Friday, members of our office were there again, this time to watch him receive his CHP badge.

Juan, thank you for everything you contributed to Post 460. We’re incredibly proud of you and look forward to seeing what you accomplish throughout your career.

Congratulations, Officer Silvar! You earned it.

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1500 Bell Drive
Atwater, CA
95301

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