A Gustine Police volunteer, who was training to serve as a reserve officer, was killed early Saturday morning when he stopped at the scene of a collision on Highway 99 and was struck by a drunk driver, the California Highway Patrol.

The deceased was identified as Abraham Guzman, 28, of Merced. Guzman was acting as a Good Samaritan by stopping to help at the scene of one collision, when he was struck by another vehicle. The CHP said the two drivers were both intoxicated.

The initial crash was reported at 4:10 a.m. on March 16 on Highway 99, north of the Westside Boulevard. Sincere Collins, 22, of Atwater was driving southbound on the highway in a GMC Acadia at an unknown speed.

For unknown reasons Collins made an unsafe turning movement to the left causing the GMC to collide with the guardrail and come to rest on its wheels, blocking the #1 lane. Guzman was driving on the highway and saw the wreck and stopped to offer assistance by pulling over into the center median.

At approximately 4:18 am, Yessica Partida, 23, of Merced was driving a Honda Civic within the #1 lane of southbound Highway 99 north of the Westside Boulevard at an unknown speed.

Partida did not appear to have seen the disabled GMC in the lane and the left front of the Honda crashed into the left rear of the GMC.

As the collision occurred, Guzman was helping the right front passenger get out of the GMC and was standing near the right side of the vehicle, according to the CHP. Guzman was struck by the Honda and sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The GMC and Honda became disabled, blocking the southbound lanes of the highway.

During the investigation, an evaluation of both drivers was conducted and both drivers were found to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the crashes, the CHP reported.

Collins was arrested for suspicion of DUI and transported to Memorial Medical Center for moderate injuries. Both passengers in the GMC sustained moderate to major injuries and were transported to Memorial and Doctors Medical Center.

Partida was arrested for suspicion of felony DUI and was transported to Memorial Medical Center for moderate injuries.

Guzman was a graduated of Golden Valley and lived in Merced with his parents. He had previously served as a police explorer and volunteer in Merced. Guzman worked as a truck driver and was interested in pursuing the avenue of law enforcement. He had gone on several ride-alongs in Gustine and helped in whatever ways he was asked, including with the department’s Christmas operation last December. He applied to serve as a volunteer in January and was scheduled to complete Module II of the Merced Police Academy on April 2 at Merced College. He had planned to begin the hiring process with Gustine Police Department as a Level II Reserve Officer at the completion of his graduation.

“Our love and our prayers go out to Abraham’s family, friends and co-workers,” he police department said in a released statement. “He will always be remembered by his sense of humor, love for people and passion for the law enforcement profession.”

“You don’t come across people like Abraham very often – people that have the commitment to serve,” said Gustine Police Chief Ruben Chavez. “He was a solid guy, with a big heart. He was very personable and easy going. He would have been a great police officer.”