Lake County >> A Chico man was found dead after a vehicle crash off an embankment on Highway 20 on Wednesday.
The incident took place Monday, but authorities have yet to establish a time. Richard Paz Jr., driving a 1998 Dodge Ram pickup, was traveling eastbound on Highway 20 near Witter Springs Road at a high rate of speed, according to California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer Chris Tuggle.
Paz, 27, reportedly veered off the right side of the road and crashed with multiple trees on the shoulder. The pickup overturned and rolled multiple times, Tuggle stated. Paz, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown out and sustained fatal injuries.
The crash site was in a densely vegetated area and could not be seen from the roadway. It was discovered by a passerby who notified authorities. Multiple units from CHP and the Northshore Fire Protection District responded.
Officers have yet to determine if drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident, which is under investigation by Tuggle.
Fatal accident in Lucerne
A fatal accident occurred Thursday afternoon on Highway 20 near Grove St. in Lucerne.
According to initial reports and California Highway Patrol accident logs, a woman was traveling west at a high rate of speed in a Ford Thunderbird when the vehicle careened off the roadway. The vehicle hit a tree and smashed into a mobile home and shed at Sandy Beach Trailer Lodge.
The accident occurred at approximately 3:17 p.m. Units were assigned immediately and arrived within a few minutes. By 3:45 first responders were requesting an OK to take the vehicle apart for extrication.
Crews from Cal Fire and the Northshore Fire Protection District responded, as well as Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
CHP officials had not released further details at press time.
Briefly
A fire broke out at Timberline Disposal in Lakeport on Thursday evening, temporarily shutting down a portion of Soda Bay Road.
