CHP Report for the week of 12/31/19
The following incidents are submitted by the Quincy Area California Highway Patrol as a tentative summary pending the conclusion of the investigation(s).
Falling rock, Dec. 19
At approximately 12:45 p.m., John Yolton, 45, of Greenville, was driving a 2017 Ford F350 west on Highway 36, east of Highway 44, at about 55 mph. Yolton observed a large lock rolling off the embankment at the north side of the roadway ahead of his course of travel.The driver made a turning movement to the left, attempting to avoid the falling rock. The rock rolled into the roadway, and collided with the right rear wheel of the truck. Yolton lost control of the Ford and it traveled across the oncoming traffic lane, exited the south road edge and overturned on an ascending embankment, south of the roadway. The vehicle came to a rest on its passenger side on the south shoulder of Highway 36, facing east.
Passing motorists witnessed the collision, and stopped to lend aid to the driver. CHP, CAL-Fire, SEMSA and Caltrans responded to the scene. Yolton suffered complaint of pain and injuries to his head and neck. He was transported from the scene by SEMSA Banner Lassen Medical Center in Susanville for treatment of minor injuries. The collision remains under investigation at this time.
Single-car accident, Dec. 22
At approximately 5:20 p.m., Lin Tzu-Lien, 27, of Redding, was traveling northbound on Highway 89, just north of Plumas County Road 305 in a rented 2019 Jeep Cherokee. She was transporting four adult passengers. Weather conditions were cloudy and cold. It was actively snowing at time.
The Jeep suddenly lost traction causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The Jeep began to travel into the southbound lane. The driver attempted to apply the brakes and steer back into the northbound lane but the Jeep was unresponsive. The vehicle traveled across the southbound lane and off the roadway before rotating in a clockwise direction and colliding with a snow covered embankment. The Jeep overturned onto the passenger side and traveled back into the southbound lane. The SUV came to rest on its passenger side facing north.
The driver and her passengers were able to extricate themselves from the Jeep and waited on scene until CHP arrived. All of the Jeep occupants were wearing their lap and shoulder safety harnesses. One passenger complained of pain to her right elbow and was released by medical personnel on scene. No other injuries were claimed.
Alcohol is not suspected as being a factor in this collision.
Overturned vehicle, Dec. 22
Jason Osborne, 28, of Moundhouse, Nevada, was driving his 2001 Nissan Frontier southbound on US 395, just north of the Nevada border. It was about 10 a.m.
Osborne allowed his vehicle to drift onto the dirt and grass center divide. The driver then veered the Nissan hard to the right, across the lanes of traffic and onto the dirt shoulder. The vehicle began overturning before coming to rest on its left side.
Osborne had been wearing his seatbelt and was able to get himself out of the Nissan. He was then placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI and transported to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno for treatment of minor injuries.
The cause of this collision remains under investigation.
Fatal accident, Dec. 23
At approximately 10:40 a.m., Portola resident Michael Hidde II, 52, was driving his 1997 Chrysler Sebring westbound on Highway 70, east of Willow Creek Sandhouse. His rate of speed was unknown.
For unknown reason, the Chrysler veered off the roadway and onto the dirt shoulder and struck a tree. The impact with the tree caused major damage to the vehicle. Hidde sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of this collision is still under investigation. The driver was wearing his seatbelt at the time. Neither alcohol nor drugs is believed to have been a factor.
Fatality, Dec. 23
At about 6:50 p.m., Kailee Seal, 28, of Reno, was driving her 2004 Nissan Pathfinder westbound on Highway 44, just east of the Shasta/Lassen County Line.
She was traveling at approximately 50 mph. The roadway had patches of packed snow and ice. Seal was transporting one passenger, who was in the front passenger seat.
According to the CHP report, due to unsafe speed for the icy conditions, the Nissan lost traction with the roadway surface and slid out of control across the eastbound traffic lane and off the south highway edge. The vehicle struck a paddle marker before overturning onto an area of large rocks. One of these rocks struck the driver’s door area causing major injuries to Seal. The Nissan rolled a second time and the driver’s door struck another rock causing further injuries. The Pathfinder came to rest near a small tree on the south side of the road.
Both parties were wearing their seatbelts. No rocks struck the passenger side of the vehicle and the passenger was uninjured. Seal was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from SEMSA ambulance.