Investigators: Merced cop not to blame for deadly crash

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Investigators have ruled a Merced police officer is not to blame for a deadly crash last year.

The accident happened in November near the intersection of R and 14th streets. A Merced police SWAT vehicle collided with Hubertino Vallejo, 60, of Planada, who died from his injuries.

The California Highway Patrol conducted a seven-month investigation, which found Vallejo stepped off the curb of the R Street sidewalk and fell toward the SWAT vehicle as it was heading north.

The report says the driver, Officer Moses Nelson, did nothing wrong. It also points heavy rain caused reduced visibility at the time of the crash.