LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The sheriff’s office has identified the Lakeport woman who died in a crash near Upper Lake on Friday afternoon.
Lee Ann Nelson, 57, was the victim in the wreck, according to Lt. Corey Paulich.
The California Highway Patrol Clear Lake Area office’s Monday report on the crash said it occurred at 4:50 p.m. Friday on Highway 20, west of Van Sleeper Road.
Initial reports from the scene by witnesses and firefighters had varied between stating that the crash involved either two or three vehicles.
The CHP’s report explained that the crash in fact involved three vehicles – the 2008 Kia Rio driven by Nelson, a 2013 Honda Accord driven by 47-year-old David Ostberg of Kelseyville and a 2007 Cadillac CTS driven by Matthew Hansen, 32, of Witter Springs.
The report said Ostberg was driving his Honda Accord westbound on Highway 20 directly behind a semi truck that was not involved in the wreck.
Hansen was driving his Cadillac eastbound on Highway 20 while approaching Ostberg’s Honda. Nelson was driving her Kia eastbound, directly behind Hansen, the CHP said.
The CHP said Ostberg made an illegal pass with his Honda and traveled directly into Hansen’s path.
The left side of Ostberg’s Honda sideswiped the left side of Hansen’s Cadillac, with the CHP report explaining that the initial collision caused the Honda to rotate, out of control, while still in the eastbound lane and traveling westbound.
Nelson swerved her car to the right but couldn’t avoid colliding with Ostberg’s car, the CHP said.
The front of her Kia broadsided the passenger side of Ostberg’s Honda as they were both in the eastbound lane, according to the report.
The CHP said the vehicles came to rest in the eastbound lane, partially blocking traffic.
Nelson was pronounced deceased by firefighters at the scene of the crash, while the CHP said Hansen was uninjured and Ostberg had minor injuries.
On Monday, the CHP said the crash remained under investigation. However, the agency said that so far neither drug intoxication nor speed appeared to have been factors.
The CHP said all parties involved were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the wreck.
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Lakeport woman identified as victim of fatal Friday wreck
- Elizabeth Larson
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