By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
A San Jose woman died when her 2005 Ford Freestyle SUV rolled over on Interstate 5, south of County Road 35.
The accident occurred at about 6 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22, when reports began coming in that a vehicle had flipped over and was on its roof in the fast lane of southbound I-5.
Other vehicles reportedly narrowly missed hitting the Ford.
Susan Lynn Beach, 67 according to the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, 68 according to the California Highway Patrol, and her son, Evan Thomas Beach, 39, also from San Jose, were traveling north on I-5 at about 70 miles per hour, on their way to Redding.
For unknown reasons, south of County Road 35, the Ford traveled off the roadway to the east onto the gravel shoulder.
Driver Susan Beach steered the SUV back to the west sharply, ultimately overturning and coming to rest on its roof in the southbound fast lane.
Passenger Evan Beach exited the vehicle prior to the arrival of emergency responders. Susan Beach was trapped in the vehicle and was extricated by volunteers with the Artois Fire Department.
She was pronounced deceased at 6:42 a.m. A couple of minutes later, the entire southbound side of the freeway was shut down so that the Flightcare helicopter could land.
Evan Beach was transported to Enloe Medical Center by the air ambulance for treatment of his moderate injuries. However, he was notified of his mother’s death prior to his departure.
According to the CHP, both occupants of the Ford were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.
The slow lane of southbound I-5 was reopened at 7:02 a.m. A half-hour later, both southbound lanes were open.
Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies, in charge of the coroner’s investigation, cleared the scene at about 8:06 a.m. Susan Beach’s body had been released to the care of F.D. Sweet and Son Funeral Home of Willows.
The vehicle was removed from the scene by L&T Towing.
The Glenn County Observer 