Willits Man Dies Followoing Fatal Blue Lakes Car Accident on Highway 20 at Blue Lakes Lodge
Lake County, California (January 15, 2020) – According to the California Highway Patrol, a 44-year-old Willits man died in a traffic accident that happened Sunday afternoon in the Blue Lakes area.
The crash occurred at around 4:11 p.m. Sunday, January 12 on Highway 20 at Blue Lakes Lodge.
According to the CHP, a 1991 Toyota Pickup, driven by the Willits man, was heading eastbound on Highway 20 at about 50 mph when for undetermined reasons, the Toyota veered across the solid double yellow lines into the westbound lane, where it sideswiped a westbound 2000 GMC Sierra.
The impact of the collision caused the GMC to spin out on the north side of Highway 20. The Toyota continued into the westbound lane and collided head-on with an oncoming 2014 Dodge Ram 2500 that was going at about 40 MPH.
The GMC came to a stop on its wheels on the north embankment of Highway 20, the Toyota came to a stop, also on its wheels on the north shoulder of Highway 20 and the Dodge came to a rest on the northern shoulder of Highway 20.
The Toyota driver suffered major injuries and was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital and then transferred to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the GMC, Gabriel Gutierrez, 57, of Kelseyville, was not injured. The driver of the Dodge, Phillip Nasca, 51, of Eureka, and his passenger, Mia Nasca, 24, of Eureka, were not injured in the crash.
Authorities said alcohol played a role in the crash.
The accident remains under investigation.