Day: March 30, 2024

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

The third item in yesterday’s “Daisy’s News Briefs: The Long and Short of It” concerned a pickup that drove off northbound Interstate 5 and plunged into the Tehama-Colusa Canal.

Shortly after publishing this news brief, I discovered that the California Highway Patrol had sent out a press release regarding the accident. My original story had just used information I gathered from police scanner broadcasts, the CHP’s traffic incident website, and one or two phone calls I made to involved parties.

This update includes that information along with information from the CHP’s press release:

A pickup with five occupants traveled off the northbound side of Interstate 5 late Friday morning and plunged into the Tehama-Colusa Canal located between County Roads 25 and 27.

The incident happened at about 10:21 a.m. on March 29. According to the news release’s summary from CHP Officer T. Krueger, Daniel Ramos, 19, of San Lorenzo, Calif., was driving his red Nissan Titan pickup north on I-5, north of County Road 27 and south of the Tehama-Colusa Canal, which flows under the freeway.

However, the list of persons involved in the accident, just above the summary in the media release, names Alejandro Campana, 20, of San Leandro, as the driver and Ramos as one of the passengers.

Anyway, according to the CHP officer, the weather was cloudy and blustery, but not yet raining.

The driver of the pickup (whoever it was) was traveling at about 70 miles per hour. For reasons that have not yet been determined, he allowed the Nissan to steer to the right, onto the gravel shoulder.

Then he steered left, back onto the freeway. He then allowed the pickup to steer to the right again, completely off the roadway and onto the gravel shoulder.

The Nissan continued out of control in a northerly direction as it passed outside the bridge guardrail and onto the raised canal embankment, where the vehicle became airborne. The pickup struck the outside of the bridge rail as it was descending into the water-filled canal.

The Nissan entered the canal and immediately began to sink. All five occupants had been wearing their seatbelts, which they removed and then swam out of the vehicle through the broken front driver’s side window.

The pickup sank to the bottom and was completely submerged. A witness stopped and helped the occupants out of the canal by extending a shovel for them to hold as they climbed up the smooth, slick canal bank.

He also rendered medical aid. [Editor: Yay, unnamed witness!]

According to scanner broadcasts, Artois Fire Department volunteers began responding at 10:30 a.m.

On Highway 99, an Orland firefighter (he sounded like Jerry Kraemer, whose manufacturing facility is nearby) opened a gate to the north side of the canal, thereby giving Artois firefighters and others access.

The Orland firefighter temporarily assumed incident command.

At 10:33 a.m., the Orland volunteer reported that all five occupants were out of the water and their injuries were being assessed. [Editor: Again, yay, unnamed witness!]

Two minutes later, it was announced that all the accident victims were “walking wounded” and that Westside Ambulance was “about a minute out.”

Shortly thereafter, incident command was turned over to Artois.

At 10:51 a.m., an Artois firefighter reported that “patients were being transported” (see below) and Artois Fire units were being released at the scene.

“Additionally,” said the firefighter, “Fire cut the lock on the north side of the T-C Canal, north of Road 27.” The dispatcher was asked to try to make contact and “let the landowner know.”

According to the CHP’s press release, the five occupants of the Nissan were assisted at the scene by witnesses who stopped and immediately rendered aid [Editor: Yay, witnesses who got involved!], in addition to the CHP, Westside Ambulance personnel, Artois Fire Department volunteers, and an Orland volunteer firefighter. [Editor: Yay to all involved!]

All five occupants were forced to leave their belongings, including their phones and wallets, in the Nissan.

The Observer later learned that Bambauer Towing was called to remove the pickup but was cancelled just minutes later, as it was not immediately recoverable. According to the CHP, the Glenn County Sheriff’s Dive Team will remove it at a later date.

CHP Officers Krueger and Thaddeus Williams provided all the parties with a ride to the Walmart in Willows to obtain dry clothing. [Editor: Yay, Officers Krueger and Williams!]

The staff at Walmart was told of the circumstances and donated new clothing, shoes, and a hot meal. The CHP’s media release states, “The young men were very grateful to Walmart for its generosity.” [Editor: Yay, Walmart!]

The release names the five as Alejandro Campana, 20, of San Leandro; Daniel Ramos, 19, of San Lorenzo; Alberto Ramos, 19, of San Leandro; and Diego Ramos, 19, of San Lorenzo.

The fifth occupant was listed only as a 17-year-old boy. His name and even his city of residence were improperly withheld. [Editor: Boo!]