LAKE COUNTY — A man died after crashing into a tree on Highway 20 and Beryl Way in Clearlake Oaks and his body was extricated from a 1992 white Ford van Thursday evening. According to witnesses, the driver, the only person in the van, lost control when he crossed the double-yellow lines in an attempt to pass another car, lost control and hit a tree, California Highway Patrol (CHP) Sgt. Dave Stark said. The incident occurred just before 6 p.m. CHP, Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) and Northshore Fire personnel responded to the scene. Stark said unsafe speed, unsafe passing and the man”s failure to wear a seat belt are factors in the crash. It was unknown as of press time if drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash that is currently under investigation.
