HILMAR – A former Madera resident was killed in Merced County in a collision with a big rig just south of Hilmar on Highway 165. Fred Gleason (82), now a resident of Stevinson was driving a 2008 Lexus sedan when the driver of a big rig hauling milk pulled into an intersection at Crane Avenue where the two vehicles collided.

Gleason’s identity was confirmed by Deputy Daryl Allen with the Merced County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office. The crash happened Saturday March 2, 2019 around 6:40 p.m. The driver of the 2013 Peterbilt big rig truck was identified by the California Highway Patrol as Aurelio Barajas-Zapien (43) of Turlock.

The roadway was closed for several hours while a coroner was called and CHP investigated and cleared the road. Gleason died at the scene. No other injuries were reported by the CHP. Authorities said neither drugs nor alcohol appears to have to have been a factor in this deadly crash.

Mr. Gleason was preceded in death by his wife Suzanne Gleason, daughter Julie Gleason-McCully, daughter-in-law Annette Gleason, parents Jim and Alice Gleason, and his sister Loyce Gleason. Fred was survived by his son Curtis Gleason, granddaughters Lilly and Caitlin, grandsons Garrett and Cole, and brother Don Gleason.

Funeral services will be May 31st Friday at 10 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery Belmont Avenue Fresno California just west of 99.