🚨 THE FINAL 5 MINUTES… POLICE JUST REVEALED THE HEARTBREAKING TIMELINE OF LUPITA ZÚÑIGA’S LAST MOMENTS 😭💔

Darkness. Dust. A dune buggy speeding through the night at just 10 mph… then everything goes wrong in seconds.

They lost control. The vehicle plunged straight into the icy, rushing Delta-Mendota Canal.

Three people fought their way out—swam to safety, reached the bank.

But Lupita… the 21-year-old mom with an 18-month-old waiting at home… she never came up.

What happened in those final, terrifying 5 minutes? Why couldn’t she escape like the others? Was she trapped? Disoriented? Swept away instantly?

Authorities have pieced it together from witnesses, evidence, and the scene—and the details are devastating. No wonder her family is shattered all over again.

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– Investigators have pieced together a grim timeline of the final minutes in the life of 21-year-old Lupita Lizbeth Zúñiga Ontiveros, the young Stockton mother who vanished after a dune buggy plunged into the Delta-Mendota Canal late on January 28, 2026. The reconstruction, drawn from survivor accounts, physical evidence, and scene analysis by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), paints a picture of a sudden, chaotic sequence of events that unfolded in mere minutes under cover of darkness.

The incident occurred shortly after midnight near Gravel Pit Road and State Route 140, west of Gustine, in a remote, rural area of Merced County known for off-road activity but also notorious for its hazards near irrigation waterways. According to CHP officials leading the crash probe, the dune buggy—driven by 21-year-old Elixandro Naranjo Miranda—was traveling at approximately 10 mph when it lost control amid poor visibility caused by night conditions and dust kicked up from the dirt terrain.

In the seconds leading up to impact, the vehicle veered off the makeshift path. Witnesses among the survivors described a sudden jolt as the buggy struck the canal embankment or simply drove straight into the water due to the lack of visible barriers in the dark. The plunge was immediate: The lightweight off-road vehicle submerged quickly in the canal’s swift current, which flows strongly through the region as part of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority system.

Three occupants—the driver and two female passengers—managed to extricate themselves from the sinking buggy. Reports indicate they swam or climbed to the canal bank, reaching safety despite the cold water and disorientation. Emergency calls reached the Merced Communications Center around 12:06 a.m., prompting a multi-agency response that included CHP, Merced County Sheriff’s deputies, fire crews, and specialized units.

Lupita Ontiveros, seated as a passenger, did not escape. Family members and investigators believe she was either trapped inside the vehicle as it filled with water, became entangled, or was overcome by the current almost instantly after the crash. The exact mechanics remain under review, but the rapid submersion and fast-moving water left little margin for survival. Her body was later recovered on February 8 approximately seven miles downstream near Whitworth Road and Cottonwood Road, confirming the powerful downstream pull of the canal.

The reconstruction has intensified scrutiny of the events. Family members, including Lupita’s sister Judith Zúñiga Ontiveros and uncle Cesar Ontiveros, have publicly questioned why the others escaped while Lupita did not. They pointed to details like her jacket found far from the crash site as potential inconsistencies, though officials have attributed such findings to water flow and environmental factors. The family also expressed frustration over initial communication gaps and perceived limitations in the official search.

Miranda, the driver, allegedly left the scene without reporting the incident or ensuring all passengers were accounted for. He was later located and arrested by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office on charges including felony hit-and-run resulting in death or injury, felony vandalism, and misdemeanor obstruction of a peace officer. He was booked into Merced County Jail but released pending further proceedings. The two surviving female passengers were treated at a hospital for minor injuries and provided statements to investigators.

CHP officials emphasized that the low speed did not mitigate the danger: Even at modest velocities, off-road vehicles can lose stability quickly on uneven ground, especially near unprotected waterways. Darkness and dust compounded the risk, turning what might have been a recoverable mishap into a fatal tragedy. The canal’s steep banks, murky water, and strong currents made escape difficult for anyone caught unaware.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office assisted with initial search efforts, deploying dive teams, drones, helicopters, and patrols along the canal. However, jurisdiction for the crash investigation rests primarily with CHP, and officials noted that ongoing dives were limited by safety concerns, water conditions, and resource allocation after the first day. Deputies continued extra patrols and responded to community tips throughout the 10-day search period.

Lupita’s disappearance sparked an outpouring of community support. Relatives organized daily ground searches from sunrise to sunset, walking fields and canal edges in hopes of finding clues. A GoFundMe campaign raised funds for supplies and volunteer coordination, while social media posts shared photos of Lupita with her 18-month-old daughter Deylani, pleading for information and prayers. “She was a devoted mom who always put her baby first,” Cesar Ontiveros told reporters. “This has been torture.”

The discovery of her body brought the agonizing wait to an end, though it opened fresh grief. Family spokespeople described the timeline reconstruction as “painful confirmation” of how quickly things escalated. “One minute she was out with friends, the next she was gone,” a relative said.

This case highlights persistent safety issues with off-road vehicles near Central Valley canals. Similar incidents have occurred in recent years, prompting discussions about better signage, barriers, lighting, and enforcement in high-risk zones. Authorities continue to urge caution, especially at night.

As the investigation proceeds, questions remain about contributing factors—whether speed, impairment, mechanical issues, or simple misjudgment played a role. No additional charges have been announced beyond those against the driver.

For Lupita’s loved ones, the reconstructed final minutes serve as a stark reminder of life’s fragility. A young woman full of promise, a mother to a toddler, lost in an instant. The community that rallied around her search now turns to supporting her family through the aftermath.

Rest in peace, Lupita. Your story has touched many, and your little girl will grow up knowing how fiercely she was loved and searched for.