Juliani Moreno dies in fatal Parlier car crash
Fatal Parlier car crash death of Juliani Moreno – Obituary
A tragic crash in Parlier on Tuesday night claimed the life of 15-year-old Juliani Moreno after a driver allegedly ignored a stop sign and sped through an intersection on Mendocino Avenue.
According to police, Moreno was walking across the street with his girlfriend, Mercedes, when the vehicle struck them. Mercedes, who asked not to appear on camera, recalled the frightening moment the car came toward them.
She said they were walking side by side and holding hands when everything happened in an instant. She described hearing and feeling a sudden blast as the vehicle hit her leg, and when she looked around, Moreno was no longer beside her.
People living nearby reported hearing the crash from inside their homes. One resident said he was sitting at his kitchen table eating when a loud bang suddenly echoed through the neighborhood.
Footage taken from above showed the distance the vehicle continued traveling after striking Moreno. Surveillance cameras from the area also captured the car moving at high speed shortly before it slammed into a flower shop further down the road.
The city’s police chief described the aftermath as one of the most devastating scenes he has witnessed during nearly four decades in law enforcement, calling the incident deeply tragic.
Authorities later identified the driver as 35-year-old Tiffany Mercado. Investigators believe she was impaired at the time of the crash, though alcohol has been ruled out. Video recordings showed Mercado appearing unstable while undergoing a field sobriety test.
She has since been arrested and is facing multiple charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence.
Community members say the heartbreaking death has renewed concerns about dangerous speeding along the busy stretch of Mendocino Avenue where the collision occurred. Residents have long warned that the roadway poses serious risks to pedestrians.
