KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol on Friday morning issued a report on the circumstances of a fatal crash that took place late the previous night and claimed the life of two people.

The crash, which involved a pickup, occurred on Merritt Rad west of Smith Lane at 11 p.m. Thursday, according to CHP Officer Kory Reynolds.

While initial radio and CHP reports on Thursday night had indicated three people were dead, Reynolds said that in fact two people had died as a result of the crash.

He said the names of the deceased were not being released pending family notifications.

Reynolds said that 23-year-old Jacobo Mejia was driving the 1999 Ford F-150 pickup eastbound on Merritt Road west of Smith Lane at an unknown speed with five passengers when he allowed the pickup to drift off the north shoulder.

Mejia lost control and turned the truck to the right, traveling across the roadway and exiting the south shoulder, overturning several times, according to Reynolds.

Four passengers in the pickup were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the vehicle, said Reynolds. Two of the passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Reynolds said passenger Abelino Gomez, 28, of Kelseyville, was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital by Kelseyville Fire ambulance with major injuries.

The rest of the crash survivors were flown out to area trauma centers by air ambulances which landed at Lampson Field, according to reports from the scene.

Passenger Armondo Gomez, 33, of Kelseyville was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial hospital with moderate injuries, while Reynolds said Mejia and passenger Juan Perez, 22, of Kelseyville were both flown to UC Davis Medical Center with moderate injuries.

Reynolds said Mejia was placed under arrest for felony driving under the influence causing injury and vehicular manslaughter.

CHP Officer Matt Norton is investigating the incident, Reynolds said.

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