UKIAH – A Lakeport man was the victim of a fatal head-on crash early Wednesday morning near Ukiah.

Officials still had not released the man's name late on Thursday, pending notification of kin.

Lt. Rusty Noe of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said he expected the information would be released Friday.

California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Scott of the Ukiah area office said the crash happened at about 6:50 a.m. Wednesday on the Russian River bridge, east of Highway 101.

The 49-year-old Lakeport resident, driving a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, was traveling westbound on Highway 20 and crossing the bridge at 50 miles per hour, said Scott.

Traveling the opposite direction was Edward Turberville, 33, of Santa Rosa, driving a Ford F-550 utility truck eastbound at 50 miles per hour, according to Scott.

Scott said the Lakeport man lost control of his vehicle and crossed into the path of Turberville, who wasn't able to avoid the crash. The two pickups collided head-on.

The Lakeport resident was pronounced dead at the scene, Scott said. Turberville was transported by ambulance to Ukiah Valley Medical Center.

Scott said both men were wearing their seat belts.

While the cause of the crash is still being investigated, “Mechanical failure is not an issue,” Scott said.

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