YOUR AD HERE »

Driver arrested after fatality

ABHUTCHISON, Sierra Sun

A 21-year-old Richmond, Calif. resident faces a charge of vehicular manslaughter following a fatal accident on Interstate-80 near Hirschdale Sunday.

Jason L. Crosby was traveling westbound just after 11:30 a.m. when his car went airborne after striking a guard rail, colliding with a pick-up truck. Passenger Howard Wilson, 21, of Vallejo, was ejected from the vehicle, and dragged in to the center lane. According to the California Highway Patrol report, Crosby’s vehicle possibly landed on Wilson after he was ejected from the car, and dragged him across the traffic lanes. The vehicle came to rest after it careened into the center median, striking the guard rail. CHP Community Outreach Officer John Sattler said Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene, and appeared to have suffered severe head injuries as well as internal injuries.

“It appears the driver fell asleep and struck the guard rail on the north side of the westbound lanes,” Sattler said.



Witnesses estimated Crosby’s vehicle, a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, was traveling at 85 mph when he struck the guard rail. Crosby and the two passengers in the back seat, all wearing seat belts, suffered only minor injuries. Wilson was not wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the pick-up truck, Jesus M. Favela of Antioch, Calif. was not injured. His 5-year-old son, Mario Favela was in the passenger’s seat and complained of a minor head injury.



According to the incident report, Crosby had been up all night. They were on their way back to the Bay Area from Reno when the accident occurred.

Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Truckee Fire Protection District personnel also responded to the scene. Crosby was taken to Tahoe Forest Hospital, where he was treated and released. He was arrested by CHP officers at the hospital for alleged vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving causing injury and driving with a suspended driver’s license. He was booked at the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Truckee substation.


Support Local Journalism

 

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.