NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A Napa man died in a single-vehicle crash on the Napa County side of Mount St. Helena Wednesday afternoon.
Vincent Garaventa, 75, died at the scene of the crash, which occurred at 1:35 p.m. on Highway 29, six and a half miles north of Tubbs Lane, according to the California Highway Patrol's Napa office.
Judith Garaventa, 74, riding as a passenger in the pickup, suffered minor injuries in the crash, the CHP reported.
The CHP said Garaventa was driving his 2013 Toyota pickup southbound on Highway 29 at an estimated speed of 40 miles per hour when, for reasons still under investigation, his pickup veered over to the right, in a westerly manner.
The pickup went up the embankment then back down and across the highway, crossing the opposing lane of traffic, the CHP said.
Garaventa's Toyota then left the roadway, traveling down the embankment and hitting a tree, causing moderate front end damage to the vehicle, according to the CHP report.
Vincent Garaventa died at the scene. Judith Garaventa was transported by ambulance to Queen of the Valley Hospital for treatment, the CHP said.
One-way traffic control had been in effect for several hours after the crash while the incident was investigated, according reports from the scene.
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