LAKE COUNTY– A short rain spell Monday afternoon caused a vehicle to lose control, and resulted in a two-vehicle accident that claimed the life of a Sebastopol woman.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Highway 20 east of Walker Ridge Road, 49-year-old Debra Curtis of Suisun City was driving her 2001 Ford Escape eastbound when she lost control in the heavy rain that fell near the Lake County/Colusa County Line.
Her vehicle spun around and entered the oncoming traffic lane, where it collided with a 2002 Lexus RX300 driven by 78-year-old Delores Zeni of Santa Rosa.
One of Zeni”s two passengers, Judith Tilt, 72, of Sebastopol, died at the scene of the accident. Robert Zeni, of Santa Rosa and Delores Zeni both suffered major injuries and were flown by REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
Curtis also suffered major injuries and was transported by Cal Star air ambulance to Enloe Hospital in Chico, where she was no longer listed as a patient Tuesday afternoon, according to a hospital spokesperson. A Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital spokesperson could not confirm the status of the Zeni”s as of press time Tuesday.
The roadway was closed from approximately 3 p.m. until 4 p.m., with one-way controlled traffic allowed through until about 5:30 p.m. At that time the road was reopened.
CHP Officer Dallas Richey is investigating the collision.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
