By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
It was a tragic end to 2024 in Glenn County.
According to a press release from the Willows Area Office of the California Highway Patrol, a 20-year-old Simi Valley man was driving a [red] 2021 Dodge [Ram] pickup north on Interstate 5 at County Road 68, in the fast lane at an unknown speed.
A 70-year-old Paso Robles man was driving a [blue] 2006 Ford [F-150] pickup, with two female passengers, south on I-5 at Road 68, also in the fast lane at an unknown speed.
According to the CHP’s press release, this was at about 9:18 p.m., but the CHP’s Traffic Incident Information website and the Glenn County Sheriff’s Communications Center indicate that it was about 8:37 p.m.
Regardless, for unknown reasons, the Simi Valley man drove his Dodge pickup into the center median, overcorrected to the right, then back to the left. He then drove the Dodge through the median and into the southbound I-5 fast lane, where it struck the Ford pickup head-on.
Following the impact, the Dodge came to rest in the middle of the southbound lanes, while the Ford traveled off the roadway and onto the shoulder to the west.
According to the CHP’s Traffic Incident page, both vehicles sustained major frontend damage. The southbound lanes were blocked by the Dodge and debris, and the freeway was shut down.
Southbound traffic was diverted off I-5 at County Road 68.
Police scanner broadcasts indicated that a few minutes after the Willows Fire Department was dispatched to the accident, fire department volunteers were also sent to a medical aid call at 601 North Tehama Street. Willows Fire Chief Nate Monck responded first to this call, then to the accident on I-5.
Extrication by firefighters was required for both pickups. Firefighters already at the scene told arriving firefighters that when they got to the scene, proceed with extricating the single occupant in the red Dodge, while the earlier firefighters worked on getting the accident victims out of the blue Ford just off the freeway.
One ground ambulance was Westside, responding from Orland. The other was from Maxwell.
Initially, freeway incident command (freeway IC) reported there was one patient with major injuries and three fatalities. A couple of minutes later, this was changed to two with major injuries and two fatalities.
A medical helicopter was requested shortly after the first responders arrived at the scene. Later, freeway IC requested that the helicopter land on I-5, just north of Road 68.
Then, freeway IC requested a second air ambulance.
At 9:08 p.m., freeway IC reported that both patients had been extricated.
A few minutes later, it was reported that Reach Air Ambulance was “on the ground” on I-5.
The second medical helicopter would be Enloe FlightCare. Freeway IC requested that it land at the Willows Airport.
An inquiry was made about “the nature of the second patient.” Freeway IC responded that it would “be a trauma team activation.”
At about 9:19 p.m., a ground ambulance with a Willows Fire Department rider transported a woman to the Willows Airport, where the Enloe FlightCare helicopter had landed.
Shortly before 9:30 p.m., freeway IC reported that the Reach Air Ambulance was “off the ground” and headed to Enloe. According to the CHP’s press release, the patient it carried was the 20-year-old Simi Valley man.
About 9:35 or so, it was heard over the scanner that firefighters would remain at the crash scene while they extricated the two bodies of the deceased accident victims.
At approximately 9:45 p.m., it was reported that the Enloe FlightCare helicopter had taken off and was headed to Enloe Medical Center. According to the CHP’s media release, the patient it carried had been one of the passengers in the Ford pickup, a 66-year-old Paso Robles woman.
At about 10:36 p.m., it was reported to GCSO communications that all fire units were released by freeway IC, and freeway IC was terminated.
According to the CHP’s press release, the survivors of the collision were the driver of the Dodge Ram, a 20-year-old Simi Valley man; and a passenger in the Ford F-150, a 66-year-old Paso Robles woman. The other two occupants of the Ford, the driver, a 70-year-old Paso Robles man, and another passenger, a 64-year-old woman from Torrance, were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the CHP, the driver of the Dodge was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Neither was the Torrance woman.
The driver of the Ford was wearing a seatbelt, as was the 66-year-old Paso Robles woman.
Neither alcohol nor drugs were thought to be factors in this accident.
The Glenn County Observer 