December 4, 2021 – Merced – On December 5, 2020, MPD Officers responded to a fatal traffic collision at Bear Creek and Parsons Ave. The 19-year-old driver, Savannah Correa, was killed and 3 other passengers were injured, one being under 21. Investigators determined that Correa's blood alcohol level was .30% at the time of the collision, nearly 4 times the legal limit of .08%, for drivers over age 21.

Merced PD Traffic Officers with the assistance from the Alcohol Beverage Control agents and the Merced County District Attorney's Office completed a lengthy investigation to determine how and where Correa, and her underage passenger, had obtained the alcohol from, due to the fact that they were under 21 years old.

It was determined that 22-year-old Gage Vaughn had purchased the alcohol and furnished the alcohol to Correa and the underage passenger, earlier in the evening.

The Merced County District Attorney's Office reviewed the case and filed charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, against Gage Vaughn. Vaughn was contacted during a traffic stop on 12/1/21 and arrested on the warrant issued in this case.

Moral to the Story: Furnishing Alcohol to someone under age 21 is a CRIME that could have fatal consequences.

Source: Merced Police Department