Day: February 4, 2022

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

A person was killed early Friday afternoon in a rollover accident on Interstate 5, north of County Road 24.

The information that follows is taken from the California Highway Patrol’s traffic incident website and police scanner chatter. The information from both of these sources is never completely reliable, as it often consists of unverified statements from unobjective witnesses.

However, according to the CHP traffic incident page, at about 12:42 p.m., a report was received of a vehicle on its roof. Another report stated a vehicle went through center divide and flipped several times.

According to the police scanner, the driver was ejected from the vehicle.

At 12:45 p.m., the CHP said another caller reported a vehicle lost control and came across the roadway.

Scanner chatter stated CPR was in progress. The person performing CPR was reportedly an off-duty emergency responder.

The person was soon pronounced dead.

At 12:53 p.m., the traffic incident page stated that the fast lane was blocked by medical personnel.

At 1 p.m., CalTrans responded with a sweeper. Both southbound lanes needed to be swept.

According to the scanner, a deputy contacted Glenn County Communications, requesting the estimated time of arrival for a particular responder whose services were needed at the accident scene. The dispatcher contacted the responder, who said he or she would be at the scene in about an hour.

The deputy then told the dispatcher in no uncertain terms that “this is not acceptable” and to recontact the responder. If there is still a problem, said the deputy, have the responder contact the deputy personally.

The dispatcher recontacted the responder. The dispatcher then told the deputy the responder would be at the accident scene in 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, this was not the only vehicle accident on I-5, south of Orland, early Friday afternoon. At about 1:29 p.m., long before the accident farther down the freeway had been completely cleared, a report was received that two semis had collided on the southbound side of I-5, south of County Road 16.

The involved vehicles were in the slow lane of southbound I-5, while debris was in the fast lane.

The CHP’s traffic incident page reported at 1:42 p.m. that one big rig rear-ended the other, and that one of the vehicles was wedged into the other. The cab of one of the semis was said to be “totaled,” and one of the vehicles was loaded with beer.

According to scanner chatter, a hazardous material was leaking from one of the semis. According to the CHP incident page, at 2:24 p.m., CalTrans was on-scene and “should be making the call for [Glenn County Environmental Health] to respond.”

At 2:31 p.m., CalTrans was reported to have contacted drivers, trying to get tow and big rig companies to respond to the scene to clean up.

Additional information may be available in the coming days. Be sure to check for updates from The Glenn County Observer.

Theresa Nadine Foltz Forrest died at her home in Willows on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. She was born to Glenn and Lorrayne Foltz on Dec. 31, 1951.

She attended schools in the Orland school system and graduated from Orland High School in the class of 1969. She attended Trinity College in Canada before returning to finish school at Butte College.

She married Bruce Forrest of Willows in December of 1974. The couple made their home in Willows.

She was active in her church on the Worship Team, taught Sunday School, attended many Thrive Conferences, and mentored many people in their faith over the years. She was a local Realtor in the Glenn County market, active in the Orland Alumni Association and the Avenue of Lights at the Glenn County Fairgrounds during the Christmas season.

She is survived by her husband, Bruce Forrest; siblings Roxanne Gonsalves, Wayne Foltz, Cheryle Christian, and Dwight Foltz; seven nephews and one niece and their children; uncle, Richard Booth; and cousin, Frank Booth. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Emerson and Thelma Foltz; maternal grandparents, Frank and Irene Booth; father, Glenn Foltz; and mother, Lorrayne Foltz.

She will greatly be missed by all who knew her but she leaves behind a wonderful and lasting impression on each person she knew.

A service is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Oddfellows Cemetery, 3900 County Road P, southeast of Orland. A celebration of life at the Faith Bible Church, 403 Vine Street, Willows, is planned to follow 11:30 a.m.