HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man was the victim of a fatal car crash near Hidden Valley Lake on Monday night.
The 60-year-old man, whose name was not released by the California Highway Patrol in a Tuesday morning report, was declared dead at the scene of the wreck, which occurred at 6:30 p.m. on Highway 29 at Putah Lane.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Coroner Division did not have the man’s name ready for release, as his family had not yet been notified, the agency reported Tuesday morning.
The CHP report said 34-year-old Adam Norton of Middletown was driving his 1988 Chevrolet pickup southbound on Highway 29 at an unknown speed. He was not wearing his seatbelt.
The Clearlake driver, in a 2008 Pontiac Grand Am, was heading northbound, also at an unknown speed, according to the report. He was wearing a lap and shoulder harness.
For unknown reasons, Norton allowed his pickup to veer to the left, crossing the center lines directly in the Pontiac’s path, the CHP said.
The Pontiac’s driver attempted to veer sharply to the right to avoid the crash but the CHP said he was unsuccessful, and the two vehicles collided head-on in the northbound lane.
The force of the crash resulted in Norton’s pickup ending up on its passenger side, resting against the Pontiac.
Norton had to be extricated from his vehicle, according to witnesses at the scene.
Norton sustained major injuries and was transported via air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. The CHP said he was in stable condition on Tuesday.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Alcohol is not a factor, the CHP said.