WITTER SPRINGS — The identities of the two Maine residents involved in a fatal car crash discovered Monday morning have been released by the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Early CHP investigation indicates that Taylor Griffin, 40, of Portland, Maine, was driving a yellow 2012 Chevrolet Corvette westbound on Highway 20 west of Witter Springs Road when he failed to negotiate a right curve and drove off the road.
The Corvette then hit an oak tree, ejecting Griffin. He sustained fatal injuries in the solo-vehicle crash.
The only passenger, 43-year-old Carrie Davenport, of South Freeport, Maine, sustained major injuries and was transported by REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
The CHP is still trying to confirm the timeline of the crash, according to Officer Kory Reynolds.
Griffin and Davenport were last seen in Upper Lake around 11 p.m. Sunday, but emergency personnel didn”t learn about the crash until nearly 12 hours later, Reynolds said.
CHP Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call at approximately 11 a.m. Monday from Davenport, who reported the crash but didn”t know her location.
Dispatch tracked her cellphone, triangulating the call to approximate a location, Reynolds said. First responders found the car down an embankment at about 11:15 a.m. Monday.
The crash remains under investigation though speed appears to have been a factor, according to the CHP.
