UPDATE 12:35 P.M.: The CHP sent out the following press release:

On January 12, 2013 in the early morning hours, 43 year old James Vincent Carpenter, from Honeydew, CA, was driving a 1997 Ford pickup eastbound on Mattole Road, west of Mattole Grange, in the community of Petrolia, CA.  Carpenter was traveling at an unknown speed and drove the Ford over the south shoulder of Mattole Road and down a descending embankment.  The Ford rolled over and landed on its wheels.  Carpenter sustained fatal injuries due to this traffic collision.  Members of the Petrolia Fire District were the first responders on scene.  California Highway Patrol Officers J. Richter, #20383, and S. Powell, #19190, responded and investigated the TC.  California Highway Patrol Sergeant R. England, #15172, monitored the incident via telephone.  County of Humboldt Deputy Coroner R. Horton, #11K2, Pronounced Carpenter deceased at 2:12 PM. No roadways were closed due to the traffic collision.  Carpernter was not wearing his seatbelt during the collision.  Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the collision.

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The CHP dispatch has confirmed that there was a fatality on the Mattole Rd. before 12 P.M. Saturday.  They promise to provide more details later.  However, a local resident says that there was a motor vehicle accident, a rollover, that occurred between Petrolia and Honeydew late Friday night or Saturday morning.  The accident wasn’t reported until noon on Saturday.  LoCO will be updating with more information as it becomes available.