PER ONE OF THE LOCAL RESIDENTS INVOLVED, THE AGE OF KAYLA WARD HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Several Lake County residents escaped unharmed from a multi-vehicle pile up on Interstate 5 on Monday that claimed the lives of three people.
The crash – which closed the highway until late Monday night – occurred at 12:43 p.m. on southbound Interstate 5 south of Highway 113 near Woodland, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Two residents from Monmouth, Ore. – a 49-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man whose names were not released – who were riding in a 2004 Chevy Tahoe died, as did a 2-year-old girl from Tacoma, Wash., who was riding in a 1996 Acura Integra driven by 61-year-old Tedd J. Laylock of Riverside, Calif.
Yolo County Chief Deputy Coroner Robert LaBrash said Tuesday that the names of the fatal crash victims were not yet available for release. Causes of death for the three victims also hadn't been finalized, he said.
Six vehicles were involved, including a 2010 Ford van driven by 51-year-old Laurene K. Ward of Lower Lake, the CHP reported.
Ward had riding as her passengers six young people – Lower Lake residents Kayla Ward, 21, and Dylan Ward, 17, along with Daniel Barrio and Max Scandell, both aged 20; and Clearlake residents Derick Grace and Austin Layne, both age 17, the report explained.
Ward and the six young people all were unhurt, according to the report.
The CHP reported that Carlos A. Hernandez, 38, of Elk Grove, Calif., was driving a 2006 Mits box bobtail truck southbound on I-5 south of Highway 113 in the No. 2 lane at an undetermined rate of speed approaching slower moving traffic when he changed into the No. 1 lane.
Due to road construction in the area, traffic was slowing and stopping to safely travel through the construction zone, according to the report.
The CHP said that because of Hernandez's “unsafe speed,” the front of his truck struck several southbound-traveling vehicles that were moving at a slower rate or already stopped in the No. 1 lane.
The truck's collision with the other vehicles resulted in five of the six vehicles becoming engulfed in flames, the CHP said.
Hernandez suffered major injuries, with a broken left wrist, cuts to his head and burns. The CHP said he was transported to UC Davis Medical Center.
Laylock suffered moderate injuries, including cuts to his knees and a chest bruise, while his second passenger, 21-year-old Brianna M. DeMillo of Tacoma, also suffered moderate injuries, with cuts to her elbows and burns to her hands and legs. Both were transported to Mercy San Juan Hospital.
Frances C. Allen, 59, of Livermore, who was driving a 2010 Jeep Wrangler, escaped uninjured, the CHP said.
Arturo R. Carrera, 41, of Bellflower, Calif., was driving a 1998 Ford Expedition with three passengers – 39-year Guadulupe M. Carrera, 13-year-old Adrian Carrera and 4-year-old Destiny Gonzales, all of Bellflower.
Arturo Carrera suffered minor injuries, with burns on both arms, his face and head, and Guadulupe Carrera had moderate injuries, including burns on the right side of her body, her right leg and right arm, the CHP said.
Adrian Carrera and Destiny Gonzales both suffered minor injuries, with the CHP stating that the older girl received burns to her right wrist and the young child sustaining cuts to her left ankle.
The CHP said the Carreras and Gonzales all were taken to UC Davis Medical Center for care.
All of the people involved in the crash were wearing their seat belts, according to the report.
Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in this collision, the CHP said.
The Valley Division Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) will handle the investigation's conclusion.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or who has any other information regarding the investigation is encouraged to contact Valley Division MAIT at 916-464-2080.
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