UPDATE, 2:18 p.m.:

Press release from the California Highway Patrol:

On February 27, 2016 at approximately 8:00 a.m., 34 year old Stormy Joy McConnell of McKinleyville was driving her silver 2000 Nissan Frontier southbound on SR-96, north of Trinity Valley Farm (MM 3), at an unknown speed.  46 year old Toni Rae Peters of Crescent City was properly restrained in the front passenger seat; a 9 year old male juvenile from McKinleyville was seated in the rear passenger area.

For unknown reason, Ms. McConnell lost control of her vehicle, drifting in an easterly direction, and crossing the northbound lane of SR-96. The Nissan then traversed over the roadway edge and down the hillside where it collided with an oak tree. It was daylight, cloudy and the roadway was wet from earlier rains (not raining at time of collision).

Emergency personnel from the Willow Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Salyer Fire Department, and Hoopa Ambulance responded to the scene to provide emergency medical care. 

Ms. McConnell was pronounced deceased at the scene. Ms. Peters and the 9 year old male juvenile were transported to Mad River Community Hospital with moderate to major injuries. It does not appear impairment was a factor in the collision, however; CHP continues to investigate the collision.

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Original post:

Shortly after 8 a.m. Saturday the California Highway Patrol responded to State Route 96 north of Willow Creek where, according to dispatch traffic, a Nissan Frontier pickup had gone off the road and down a 40-foot embankment, resulting in at least one fatality.

The original call noted there was possibly a baby in the vehicle. CHP personnel shut down the northbound lanes, and the coroner was called out at 8:51 a.m., and the road was reopened at roughly 9:45 a.m.

The Outpost will update as more information becomes available.