🚨 9 DAYS GONE… AND STILL NO SIGN OF LUPITA! 😢💔 A young mom vanishes into dark, freezing canal waters after a terrifying dune buggy crash — her 18-month-old baby girl waits at home, but the driver fled the scene and the others “don’t remember” what happened?!

Family & strangers search sunrise to sunset along the murky Delta-Mendota Canal… Merced County Sheriff’s deputies just joined the desperate hunt yesterday… but time is cruelly running out. Was it just a tragic accident… or is something darker at play? 🕵️‍♂️🌊

Heartbreaking words from her sister: “We have more questions than answers.”

Click now for the full chilling story, exclusive family pleas, and why the community refuses to give up hope! 🙏⏳

Nine agonizing days have passed since Lupita Lizbeth Zuniga Ontiveros, a 21-year-old mother from Stockton, vanished following a late-night dune buggy crash into the Delta-Mendota Canal near Gustine. Despite intensive searches by family, friends, community volunteers, and now additional support from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, there is still no sign of the young woman, leaving her loved ones grappling with grief, unanswered questions, and fading hope.

The incident unfolded in the early morning hours of January 28, around midnight, along a remote stretch near State Route 140 and Gravel Pit Road. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a dune buggy carrying four people — including driver Elixandro Naranjo Miranda, 21, of Patterson — entered the canal at approximately 10 mph amid poor visibility from darkness and dust. The vehicle flipped and submerged in the fast-moving, murky water.

Three occupants managed to escape and reach the canal bank. Lupita Ontiveros, riding as a passenger, did not. She has not been seen or heard from since.

Miranda allegedly fled the scene without reporting the crash or seeking help for the missing passenger. He was later arrested and booked into Merced County Jail on charges including felony hit-and-run resulting in death or injury, felony vandalism, and misdemeanor obstruction of a peace officer. Authorities say he has since been released pending further investigation. The other two passengers reportedly told investigators they do not recall key details of the incident.

A Mother’s Night Out Turns Tragic

Family members say Lupita was last seen by loved ones on January 26, when she asked her sister, Judith Zuniga Ontiveros, to care for her 18-month-old daughter, Deylani, while she went out with friends. “She said she’d be home by 12,” Judith told reporters, her voice breaking. “She had to do them a favor.” Lupita never returned.

The family only learned of the crash days later when two women involved reportedly showed up at the home looking for Lupita — neither had alerted authorities or reported the incident immediately. This delay has fueled frustration and speculation among relatives and online commentators, who question why help wasn’t summoned sooner.

Lupita’s uncle, Cesar Ontiveros, described her as a devoted, loving mother who would never abandon her baby girl. “She was responsible, she loved her daughter more than anything,” he said. “This breaks our hearts.”

Massive Community-Led Search Effort

From the outset, the search has been driven largely by family and community resolve. Volunteers from Stockton and the surrounding Central Valley have organized sunrise-to-sunset efforts, combing canal banks, posting flyers, and using boats and drones where possible. A GoFundMe page has been launched to cover expenses for searchers, including fuel, food, and equipment.

Merced County Sheriff’s deputies have conducted extra patrols along the canal and deployed dive teams in the days following the crash. On February 5 — marking nine days since Lupita vanished — additional personnel from the sheriff’s office arrived to bolster the operation, offering renewed but cautious optimism to the family.

The Delta-Mendota Canal presents daunting challenges: fast currents, poor visibility in sediment-filled water, thick vegetation along banks, and cold winter temperatures that complicate recovery efforts. Authorities have recovered the dune buggy from the water, but no personal items belonging to Lupita have surfaced publicly.

Sheriff’s officials emphasize that the search remains active. “We continue to patrol and follow every lead,” a department spokesperson said. However, they have not confirmed whether foul play is suspected beyond the hit-and-run charges against the driver.

Heartfelt Family Appeals Amid Growing Questions

Judith Zuniga Ontiveros has been the family’s public voice, speaking to local media outlets including CBS47, ABC30 Fresno, and KMPH. “We are still struggling to understand what happened,” she said. “We have more questions than answers.”

In emotional interviews, family members have pleaded for any information that could lead to Lupita’s recovery. They describe her as vibrant, caring, and fiercely protective of her young daughter. Photos shared online show a smiling young woman holding her baby, underscoring the personal tragedy.

Community response has been overwhelming. Strangers have joined search parties, shared posts on social media, and offered prayers. Online forums and comment sections reflect a mix of sympathy and suspicion — some users speculate the other occupants know more than they’ve shared, while others call for stronger accountability in off-road vehicle incidents.

Broader Context: Dangers of Off-Road Recreation

The case highlights ongoing concerns about recreational vehicle accidents in California’s rural areas. Dune buggies and similar off-road vehicles, often operated at night on unpaved roads near irrigation canals, carry significant risks: sudden drops into water, loss of control in dust or darkness, and limited rescue access in remote locations.

CHP officials have not released a final determination on the cause of the crash but noted environmental factors like low visibility played a role. No alcohol or drug impairment has been publicly confirmed in connection with the incident.

As the search stretches into its second week, the family remains resolute. “We won’t stop until we have answers,” Cesar Ontiveros told reporters. “Whether she’s found or not, we need to know what happened to Lupita.”

For now, an 18-month-old girl waits for her mother, a community rallies in solidarity, and investigators press on amid the cold, unforgiving waters of the Delta-Mendota Canal. The hope is that answers — and closure — will come soon.