Highway 70 solo vehicle collision results in fatality
The California Highway Patrol released a report on a single vehicle incident that injured two and killed one.
Leonard Forbis, 42, from Reno, Nevada, was driving a 2001 Subaru Legacy, at 12:01 p.m. on July 19 at an unknown speed, heading eastbound on Highway 70, east of Sierra Springs Drive.
Traveling in the Subaru’s right front passenger was Deborah Castillo, 34, from Quincy. Additionally, Danna Forbis, 55, from Reno, was seated in the left rear seat and not wearing a seatbelt. According to the report, Leonard Forbis allowed the Subaru to cross the solid double yellow lines separating the east and westbound lanes. When Forbis recognized his mistake, he aggressively steered to the right and the Subaru entered the dirt shoulder on the south side of SR-70. Forbis overcorrected to the left, which induced a counter-clockwise spin across both lanes of the highway.
The north edge of the highway falls off into a deep valley and the Subaru went airborne. Due to the weight of the motor, the Subaru tilted front down and the roof collided with a large pine tree. The Subaru came to rest on its side. Castillo exited the Subaru under her own power and was transported to Renown via ground ambulance. Leonard Forbis required the assistance of medical and fire personnel on scene to cut him from the wreckage and he was transported to Renown via Careflight Helicopter. Danna Forbis succumbed to her injuries on scene. Eastern Plumas Rural Fire Department, Graeagle Fire, the Plumas Co Sheriff’s Office, CHP, Eastern Plumas Health Care, Care Flight and Plumas County Search and Rescue responded to the scene.
Both directions of the highway were reduced to one-way traffic control for approximately two hours to facilitate the on-scene collision investigation. Leonard Forbis was arrested on scene, and an investigation for driving while under the influence of drugs and manslaughter has been initiated.
If any member of the public has information regarding this incident, they are encouraged to contact the California Highway Patrol at (530) 252-1900.
