Fog doesn’t care how good of a driver you are. 

January 24, 2026 – Merced CHP officials report that they Friday started with extremely dense fog in the Merced area with consequences. Early Friday morning on Bloss Road, a vehicle traveling about 50 mph in roughly 50 feet of visibility encountered two horses in the roadway. With little time for the driver to react, the vehicle struck one horse. Sadly, the horse died from its injuries. The second horse was not injured and was secured by a nearby resident after we were unable to locate the owner.

This is a tough reminder that in fog, your speed has to match what you can actually see. When visibility is limited, unexpected hazards can appear with no warning, including stalled vehicles, pedestrians, debris, and animals in the roadway.

When visibility is limited, what’s the safest speed? Slow down and drive at a speed that allows you to stop within the distance you can see. Use low beams since high beams reflect off the fog and can make visibility worse. Increase your following distance and avoid sudden braking or swerving. If you can’t see well enough to drive safely, make the safer choice and pull off the roadway when it’s safe to do so.

If you are the owner of the horses, please contact Merced Communications Center at 209-356-2900.

Source & photos: Merced CHP