DUI suspected in head-on crash near Yuba City that killed 44-year-old, injured 18-year-old
CORRECTION: Due to incorrect information released Monday morning by the CHP, the original story and headline indicated that the 18-year-old driver was arrested in connection with the crash. In a follow-up statement sent to the media Monday afternoon, the CHP said the woman was not under arrest. “We are still investigating to see which vehicle crossed over and caused the crash,” the CHP said in its follow-up statement.
A man is dead following a head-on collision on a foggy Christmas night south of Yuba City. Authorities say the other driver suffered major injuries and was taken to a Sacramento hospital.
Just after 10 p.m. on Sunday, a 2017 Ford Mustang and a 1999 Ford Explorer collided from opposite directions along South George Washington Boulevard just south of Bogue Road, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Yuba-Sutter office.
The driver of the northbound Explorer, who was identified as a 44-year-old Yuba City resident, was pronounced dead at the scene after his vehicle overturned in the crash.
The driver of the southbound Mustang — an 18-year-old resident of Yuba City — was transported to Rideout Hospital with major injuries, the CHP said in a news release. In a following up statement, the CHP said the woman was transported to a Sacramento hospital, but gave no further details.
The CHP said in its collision report that both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash — authorities later said they were not sure which vehicle crossed over into oncoming traffic.
“Alcohol and drugs are considered to have contributed to the cause of this collision,” the CHP said in its original Monday statement. “However, the cause of the collision is still under investigation.”
The name of the deceased driver will be released by the Sutter County Coroner’s Office after relatives are notified.
This story was originally published December 26, 2022 at 10:42 AM.