California Highway Patrol press release:

On 01/24/2022, at approximately 8:54 p.m., Humboldt Area CHP received a report of a head-on crash on SR-255 near Startare Drive (near Woodley Island).

Personnel from Eureka Police Department, Humboldt Bay Fire Department, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, City Ambulance of Eureka, California Department of Transportation, and California Highway Patrol responded to the scene.

Based on the preliminary investigation, CHP has determined that a 2000 Lexus was being driven southbound on SR-255 approaching a 2020 Jeep being driven northbound on SR-255. For reasons yet to be determined, both vehicles collided head-on, causing major injuries to all occupants of the involved vehicles, and came to rest blocking the roadway.

Shortly after the initial collision, a 2008 Ford being driven southbound on SR-255, crashed into the stationary Lexus and Jeep, causing minor injuries to the driver of the Ford.

The driver of the Lexus, 49-year old Dwayne Faughn of Samoa, Calif., succumbed to his injuries on scene and was pronounced deceased by emergency medical personnel.

A juvenile passenger in the Lexus, whose identity is being withheld due to her age, suffered major injuries and was transported from the scene by emergency medical personnel.

Both the driver and passenger of the Jeep were transported to St. Joseph Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

The CHP Humboldt Area Office is continuing its investigation and asks anyone who witnessed the crash, or has any additional information related to the crash, to contact the California Highway Patrol at 707-822-5981.

The California Highway Patrol extends its condolences to the family of the deceased, and thanks all responding agencies, as well as the citizens who stopped to help, for their assistance in managing the scene.