CHP Report for the week of 9/18/19
The following incidents are submitted by the Quincy Area California Highway Patrol as a tentative summary pending the conclusion of the investigation(s).
Motorcycle accident, Sept. 9
At about 4:55 p.m., Matthew Carrithers, 50, of Olympia, Washington, was riding his 2010 KTM Adventurer 900 motorcycle northbound on Highway 89, just south of Dog Rock and 1.8 miles north of Highway 70. His rate of speed was approximately 55 mph.
Two slower vehicles were traveling were in front of Carrithers. Neither one pulled out in a posted turn out. Carrithers made an illegal pass on the right (utilizing the turnout lane) to pass the two slow moving vehicles. The rider quickly ran out of turnout lane and could not make a safe turn back into the northbound lane. He traveled off of the turnout lane asphalt, onto the south gravel shoulder and lost control of his KTM.
Both rider and motorcycle continued northbound, sideswiped a tree, continued within the south gravel shoulder and down the south side embankment, which was covered in blackberry bushes. Carrithers was ejected from the KTM. The motorcycle came to rest on it left side facing north, about 25 feet down the embankment. Carrithers was wearing his DOT approved motorcycle helmet at the time of the collision. He sustained major injuries.
A following motorist called 911 to report the accident.
DUI, Sept. 10
Todd Lee, 35, of South Lake Tahoe, was driving a blue 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee westbound on Highway 70 approaching Chandler Road (east) at a high rate of speed. According to the CHP report, he was driving while under the influence of alcohol. It was about 5:37 p.m.
CHP reported that due to Lee’s level of intoxication, he allowed the Jeep to drift north off of the paved roadway and down a dirt and grass embankment just west of Chandler Road. The Jeep overturned onto its left side. Lee was not wearing his seatbelt and was completely ejected from the Jeep, causing major injuries.
The Jeep continued to overturn through a barbwire fence and into a grass pasture north of the roadway, before coming to rest on its roof facing east.
Several witnesses at the scene reported the Jeep had passed them at very high speeds over solid double yellow lines prior to the collision.
Lee was arrested.
Hit and run, Sept. 11
Between the hours of 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, and 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, a 2013 gray Ford Fusion was parked in the third parking stall from the west end of the parking lot for the upper Feather River college Dorms (400 units) facing south. An unknown white high profile vehicle (suspected to be a pickup truck or large SUV) driven by an unknown driver entered the paring lot.
The unidentified driver chose to park immediately adjacent to the left (east) of the parked Fusion. The right front corner of the vehicle to strike the Fusion at the left side doors causing significant damage to each of the doors. The damage was located 1.5 to 3 feet high off of the ground. The unknown driver fled the scene without leaving information on the Fusion, attempting to find the owner of the Fusion or notifying law enforcement of the collision.
Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact the Quincy CHP Office at 283-1100 and ask for Officer Stowe
Hit-and-run, Sept. 12
At approximately 3:02 p.m., a currently-unidentified young white female with brown hair was driving a 2016 gray Ford F-350 and was backing out of a parking stall on the west side of Bradley Street in Quincy, north of Jackson Street, near the Plumas County courthouse. Per witnesses at the scene, the female backed the truck across Bradley Street and then began to back in a southerly direction into the northbound lane of Bradley Street towards an unoccupied 2016 Honda Accord, which was legally parked next to the curb on the east side of Bradley Street facing north. As it continued to back up, the rear of the F-350 collided with the left front of the Honda, causing minor damage to the left front bumper cover. Per witnesses, the female exited the truck, looked at the damage to the Honda, then got back into the truck and fled the scene northbound on Bradley Street. The F-350 was described by witnesses as being charcoal gray, with an Oregon license plate of 042KTQ.
Fatality, Sept. 14
At approximately 1:30 p.m., the driver of a 2014 Kia Forte was traveling westbound Hwy. 36, east of A-1, at a high rate of speed. A CHP officer traveling eastbound on Hwy. 36, east of A-1, observed the vehicle. The officer made a U-turn to initiate an enforcement stop.
The driver of the Kia appeared to accelerate and continue on westbound Hwy. 36.
At the same time, Brian Rochon, 51, of Shasta Lake, was driving his 2015 Peterbilt tractor-trailer eastbound on Hwy. 36 near Phil Dow Road when he observed the Kia coming towards him at a high rate of speed.
The Kia appeared to lose control, cross over into the eastbound lane and struck the tractor-trailer head on.
The driver of the Kia received fatal injuries in the collision. Rochon reported minor injuries.
This collision is under investigation.
