Young mother identified as woman who went missing after dune buggy crashed into Merced Co. canal

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The family of 21-year-old Lupita Ontiveros, mother to an 18-month-old girl, identified her as the woman who went missing after a dune buggy crashed into a canal Wednesday.

The California Highway Patrol said the crash happened around midnight Wednesday at the Delta-Mendota Canal near Gustine.

Thursday, heartbreaking cries came from Ontiveros' mother, as she called Lupita's name while the family desperately searched the canal for any sign of the young woman.

They say they've been driving about an hour back and forth from their homes in Stockton since they learned what had happened.

"When we found this out, it's hard. It's very hard," said Cesar Ontiveros, holding back tears.

RELATED: Woman missing after dune buggy crashes into Merced County canal, CHP says

The Merced County Sheriff's Office is also continuing its own search, using dive teams and patrols around stretches of the canal.

MCSO said Ontiveros could have been carried very far, which makes the search difficult. Officials also said the search poses other challenges.

"The water is very murky, and with that murkiness, the current is very strong. It makes it difficult to see anything," said Alexandra Garcia, a spokesperson for MCSO.

The CHP, which is leading the investigation, says the search was further complicated after the driver left the scene.

"It takes many more hours just to find exactly where or what happened. It's just more resources we've got to use," said CHP spokesperson Shannon Stiers.

The driver was later located and arrested.

Authorities with the agencies involved in the search for Ontiveros said they won't stop looking, but there's no telling when or if she will be found.

"I feel frustrated because I just want to know something," said Cesar Ontiveros.