Day: March 8, 2022

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

Major injuries and mysteries surround a pre-dawn crash on Highway 99, near County Road 9 on Tuesday, March 8.

The following report is based on information gathered from statements made on the sheriff’s and fire department scanner channels, and on the California Highway Patrol’s traffic incident website.

Information from both of these sources should always be taken with a large amount of skepticism, since such information often comes from confused witnesses, first responders who may not yet have access to all the facts, missing victims, witnesses and suspects, etc.

This being said, at about 5:30 a.m., 911 reports were received regarding a two-vehicle collision on Highway 99 at County Road 9.

Responders found one vehicle on its side on the Stony Creek bridge, but the other was nowhere to be found.

At about 5:33 a.m., a witness called the CHP and reported that the other vehicle may be under the bridge.

Sure enough, a minute or so later, responders learned that the other vehicle had crashed through the bridge’s guardrail and fell to the creek bed below, where it was resting on its side.

At about 6 a.m., Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney arrived with a key to unlock the gate to the Orland Sand and Gravel property.

Ambulance, fire and law enforcement vehicles were then able to gain access to the vehicle under the bridge.

Chief Chaney advised ambulance personnel to park next to his truck on the OS&G property.

Firefighters carried a victim from the crashed vehicle to the ambulance.

The driver of one of the involved vehicles was missing.

At about 6:56 a.m., the local CHP requested that Red Bluff officers go by the address of the registered owner of “the Dodge” (whichever vehicle that was) to see if the owner knew where his or her vehicle is or supposed to be, and who was supposed to be driving it.

At about 7:06 a.m., it was reported that a bill was found in the vehicle for a “Charles Brawdy.”

The CHP requested that an inquiry be made as to whether the registered owner knows the person.

No other identifying information was found in the vehicle.

However, some “H/S” (illicit drugs) were reportedly found.

By 7:18 a.m., the roadway was clear.

At about 7:32 a.m., it was reported that it take a couple of hours for recovery to be completed regarding the vehicle below the bridge.