Day: March 15, 2022

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

A Corning man was killed Monday morning in a two-vehicle traffic collision on Highway 99 at County Road 7.

According to the Willows office of the California Highway Patrol, at about 6 a.m. on March 14, Vernon McGuire, 61, of Chico, was driving a 2013 Kenworth big rig north on Highway 99, approaching County Road 7.

Richard Smith, 59, of Corning, was driving a 2009 Nissan SUV south on Highway 99, also approaching Road 7.

When McGuire turned the Kenworth left to go west on Road 7, he turned into the path of Smith’s Nissan.

The front of the Kenworth struck the left front side of the Nissan, causing it to crash into a power pole on the southwest corner of the intersection.

There are no stop signs at this location of Highway 99 for northbound or southbound traffic and the speed limit is 55 miles per hour.

CPR was performed on Smith, but he died of his injuries at the scene. According to CHP Officer Ovard, Smith was not wearing his seatbelts at the time of the accident.

McGuire was not injured. He was wearing his seatbelts when the collision occurred.

The Glenn County Sheriff’s log item for this incident states that Brenda Smith of Corning was a “witness” regarding this incident.

The decedent was released to the care of Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary of Orland.