UPDATE, 12/5: The California Highway Patrol has identified the individual killed in this collision as John Bare, 59, of Santa Rosa.

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Original Post: From the California Highway Patrol:

On 11/27/2019, at approximately 1250 hours, an SUV occupied by two males was traveling southbound US 101 south of Salmon Creek Rd. A Ford Excursion was traveling northbound on US 101 south of Salmon Creek Rd. For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the SUV lost control of his vehicle and crossed into the northbound lanes, directly into the path of the Ford. The Ford struck the SUV head on and both vehicles came to rest blocking both northbound lanes.

As a result of the collision, the driver of the SUV succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The passenger of the SUV sustained major injuries and was transported to St. Joseph Hospital by City Ambulance. The driver of the Ford sustained minor to moderate injuries.

US 101 was closed for approximately two hours for the collision investigation and recovery of the vehicles. All northbound and southbound traffic was diverted onto SR-254. At the time of the collision, this section of US 101 was experiencing heavy rainfall and hail. The name of the driver of the SUV is currently being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. It is unknown at this time of drugs or alcohol were a factor in this collision.

Following the initial collision, two separate non-injury collisions occurred in the immediate vicinity. The California Highway Patrol, Redway Volunteer Fire, Cal-Trans, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department, Miranda Volunteer Fire, Myers Flat Volunteer Fire, Salmon Creek Volunteer Fire and City Ambulance all responded to the scene. This collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol - Garberville Area.

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