UPDATE, 11:40 a.m.: The CHP has identified the decedent as Glen A. Roe, Jr.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Emergency Personnel Responding to Possibly Fatal Traffic Collision on Highway 101 Near Trinidad

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From the California Highway Patrol:

On March 23, 2017, at approximately 3:45 pm, Mr. [Victor] Herrera was driving a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on US-101 just north of 6th Avenue in the Westhaven area.  Mr. Herrera had a male passenger in the right front seat.  For a yet to be determined reason, Mr. Herrera failed to negotiate a downhill curving roadway and allowed the Chevrolet to leave the road.  The Chevrolet came to rest in a creek area below the roadway level.  As a result of the collision the passenger was trapped in the right front seat and sustained fatal injuries, as determined by paramedics at the scene.

Mr. Herrera was arrested at the scene for driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.  Mr. Herrera also sustained major injuries and was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital.  Mr. Herrera was booked into the custody of the Humboldt County Sheriff after he was released from the hospital.

The name of the deceased is being withheld until notification of the next of kin can be made by the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office.
Emergency personnel from the California Highway Patrol, CalFire, Westhaven Fire Department, and Arcata/Mad River Ambulance responded to the scene.

DUI is a factor in this collision and further toxicological analysis is pending.