🚨 Today, they’re holding the wake for 21-year-old Lupita Ontiveros… tomorrow, her funeral. But she vanished into dark water after a late-night dune buggy crash—and it took 11 agonizing days of desperate searches to bring her home. 😢💔

Early January 28, 2026: Lupita and three friends were riding a Polaris RZR off-road near the Delta-Mendota Canal in Merced County, California. Poor visibility, dust, darkness… the vehicle plunged in at 10 mph. Everyone else climbed out. Lupita? Gone.

The driver fled the scene—later arrested for hit-and-run. Family and friends never gave up: air, land, water searches, dive teams, endless hope. Then…

Family and friends gathered Tuesday for the wake of 21-year-old Lupita Lizbeth Zuniga-Ontiveros, with her funeral set for Wednesday, following the tragic recovery of her body after an 11-day search in the Delta-Mendota Canal in Merced County.

Zuniga-Ontiveros, a mother to an 18-month-old daughter, went missing in the early morning hours of Jan. 28, 2026, after a Polaris RZR off-road vehicle she was riding in crashed into the canal near State Route 140 and Gravel Pit Road, south of Gustine. Authorities described the incident as occurring amid poor visibility due to darkness and dust, with the vehicle entering the water at approximately 10 mph.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the California Highway Patrol, reported that the RZR carried four people. The driver, identified as 21-year-old Elixandro Naranjo Miranda of Patterson, and two other passengers managed to escape the submerged vehicle and reach the bank. Zuniga-Ontiveros, however, was unaccounted for. The vehicle was recovered later that day, but extensive searches by air, land, and water failed to locate her immediately.

Over the following 11 days, search efforts intensified. The Merced County Sheriff’s Water Recovery and Rescue Team, assisted at times by family members and community volunteers, conducted repeated operations in the canal. Family members expressed frustration over jurisdictional challenges and the pace of notifications but maintained hope, with relatives like her sister Judith Zuniga-Ontiveros speaking publicly about waiting for any sign.

On Feb. 8, around 10:15 a.m., deputies received a report of a body in the Delta-Mendota Canal near Whitworth Road and Cottonwood Road—approximately seven miles downstream from the crash site. The Sheriff’s Water Recovery and Rescue Team responded, recovered the body, and transported it to the Merced County Coroner’s Office.

On Feb. 10, the coroner’s office positively identified the decedent as Lupita Lizbeth Zuniga-Ontiveros. The announcement brought a measure of closure to her family, who had launched a GoFundMe campaign for funeral expenses and to support her young child. The page described the ordeal: “On Wednesday, January 28th, she was involved in a tragic dune buggy crash. After 11 days, we have found our beloved Lupita.”

Miranda, the driver, allegedly fled the scene following the crash. He was later located and arrested on charges including felony hit-and-run resulting in death or injury, felony vandalism, and misdemeanor obstruction of a peace officer, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office. No additional details on the criminal case have been released publicly, and the investigation into the crash circumstances continues.

Zuniga-Ontiveros was remembered by loved ones as a devoted young mother from Stockton whose life was cut short in what began as a night out with friends. The incident highlighted the dangers of off-road recreation in low-visibility conditions and the challenges of water-based searches in irrigation canals, which can have strong currents and poor accessibility.

Community response has included widespread tributes on social media, with posts expressing condolences and sharing memories of Zuniga-Ontiveros. Her family confirmed the wake and funeral arrangements, noting the services as a time to honor her life and support her surviving child. Relatives have indicated plans for a second autopsy amid ongoing questions about the events leading to her death, though authorities have not commented on that aspect.

The Delta-Mendota Canal, part of California’s Central Valley water infrastructure, has been the site of previous incidents involving vehicles or individuals, underscoring risks in rural areas where off-roading and waterways intersect. Officials have not released a preliminary cause of death beyond the crash context, pending full coroner’s findings.

Zuniga-Ontiveros’ story has resonated across the region, with local media outlets in Merced, Stockton, and Fresno covering the search, recovery, and identification. Family statements emphasized both grief and a desire for answers, with one relative noting the devastation of hoping for a living recovery but accepting the outcome.

As services proceed, the focus remains on supporting her young daughter and extended family. The GoFundMe and community donations aim to cover funeral costs and provide for the child’s future needs.

This case serves as a somber reminder of the unpredictability of recreational outings and the emotional toll on families during prolonged searches. While the physical recovery has concluded, the investigation into the crash and related charges continues, with authorities urging anyone with information to contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

In the quiet farming communities of California’s Central Valley, the loss of a young mother has left an indelible mark, as loved ones prepare to say their final goodbyes.