UKIAH — An 80-year-old Lucerne woman died and both drivers suffered major injuries after a two-car crash on Highway 101 Tuesday night.
The woman, whose name was not released Wednesday morning, succumbed to her injuries after being airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Concord, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The 87-year-old Lucerne man — also unnamed — who was behind the wheel of the Toyota Camry carrying him and the decedent remains in critical condition at the same Concord hospital, the CHP stated.
At 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, the northbound Camry driving in the left-hand lane began changing lanes directly into the path of a Honda Accord traveling in the same direction on Highway 101 just north of North State Street in Ukiah, the CHP stated.
Maria Vega, who drove the Accord, swerved to the right, applied the brakes and traveled off the highway”s east edge, according to the CHP. For unknown reasons, the Camry continued moving to the right and also left the roadway.
The cars then struck different trees, the CHP stated.
Vega, 17, of Ukiah was trapped in the Accord and extracted by emergency personnel. She was transported by ambulance to Ukiah Valley Medical Center before being airlifted to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa.
Vega is in intensive care but appears stable, according to the CHP.
The couple in the Camry were extracted and transported by ground to the Ukiah hospital before being airlifted to Concord.
The right-hand northbound lane of Highway 101 was closed for about 90 minutes because of the incident.
