Oakdale Daily Brief: Crash Update, Memorial Run and Super Bowl Patrols

Good evening, Oakdale. Here’s a quick look at what’s shaping your Saturday around town and on nearby roads as the weekend gets underway.

Victim identified in fatal Oakdale Road head-on crash

Regional authorities have released the name of the 21-year-old Turlock woman killed in Thursday morning’s foggy head-on collision on Oakdale Road near Fisher Road in Merced County. Investigators say she was trying to pass slower traffic when her vehicle moved into the oncoming lane and struck a westbound SUV carrying three children.

The young woman died at the scene despite CPR efforts from bystanders. The SUV’s driver and the three children were taken to the hospital with moderate to major injuries. Officers continue to point to heavy morning fog and an unsafe passing maneuver as key factors, and they are reminding drivers across Stanislaus and Merced counties to slow down and avoid passing when visibility is limited.

Don Osborne Memorial Run fills William Meyers Park

Closer to home, hundreds of runners and walkers turned out this morning for the 34th annual Don Osborne Memorial Run, starting at William Meyers Park behind the Oakdale Library. The community event featured a one-mile fun run and a five-kilometer race on flat, paved city streets, with local volunteers handling traffic control along the route.

The long-running fundraiser, hosted by the Oakdale Lions Club, brings in participants from across the region and helps support scholarships and other community service projects. Organizers offered snacks, fruit, juice and water at the finish, with age‑group medals and overall awards recognizing top finishers across a wide range of divisions.

CHP steps up patrols for Super Bowl weekend

As Super Bowl LX kicks off Sunday in Santa Clara, the California Highway Patrol is boosting patrols on highways and local roads, including those leading through and around Oakdale. Officials say Super Bowl Sunday routinely brings a spike in impaired driving crashes, and last year’s game weekend saw more than 200 DUI arrests statewide.

Residents planning to watch the game at local gatherings are being urged to line up a sober ride, use a ride‑share service or stay the night rather than risk driving under the influence. Law enforcement is also asking the public to call 9‑1‑1 if they spot a suspected impaired driver, and to build in extra time for travel with heavier traffic expected across the region.

Sources

• https://abc30.com/18548023/
• https://abc30.com/18556351/
• https://maisonlaw.com/2026/02/crash-kills-1-injures-4-near-oakdale-fisher-rd-in-merced-county/
• https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Oakdale/DonOsbouneMemorialRun
• https://www.theriverbanknews.com/news/lions-club-gearing-up-for-osborne-memorial/
• https://running.life/en/event/don-osborne-memorial-run
• https://www.oakdaleleader.com/news/chp-game-day-ready-for-footballs-biggest-weekend/