The CHP has released the name of the fatality in Saturday’s tragic accident on 299. She was 65 year old Leslie Irene Charles of Redding, California.

UPDATE 10:57 A.M.: To clarify, LoCO contacted the CHP.  Daniel Minton received mild to moderate injuries and his female passenger was killed.

CHP Press Release: [CHP Dispatch record here]

On 11/2/2013 at 1330 hours, Rama Sanders of Redding, CA, was driving a 2000 Lexus RX300, eastbound on SR-299, west of the East Fork Campground, near mile post marker 299 HUM 33.07.  For reasons still under investigation, as she rounded a descending left curve in the roadway, she lost control of her vehicle and it spun in a counterclockwise direction and traveled into the westbound lane.  An approaching Ford F-150 being driven by Daniel Minton of Mckinleyville, CA, was unable to avoid a collision with the Lexus and the front of the Ford collided into the right side of the Lexus.  This impact pushed the Ford to the right and over the side of a steep descending mountainside to the north of SR-299.  The Ford came to a stop approximately 70 feet down the mountainside and came to rest against two trees.  The left rear female passenger, of Redding, CA, succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the collision despite life saving efforts made by CHP Officers, Willow Creek Fire Fighters, and Hoopa Ambulance paramedics.  The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office will be making all necessary family notifications. 

The California Highway Patrol, Humboldt Area responded to the scene and is conducting the investigation.  Emergency personnel from the Willow Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Sayler Volunteer Fire Department, and Hoopa Ambulance also responded to the scene.  Due to the severity of Ms. Sanders injuries, a medical helicopter was summoned to a landing zone at Berry Summit Vista Point and transported her to Mercy Medical Center in Redding California.

SR-299 remained open to one-way traffic control during the on-scene collision investigation.  The cause is still under investigation at this time.