CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The man killed in a Tuesday afternoon crash on Highway 53 in Clearlake has been identified, and a Wednesday report explained the circumstances that led to the fatal incident.
Ricardo Perez, 46, of Nice died after he was struck by a tow truck driven by 45-year-old Joseph L. Brown of Yuba City at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP conducted the fatal crash investigation at the request of the Clearlake Police Department.
According to the report, Rosa M. Reyes, 23, of Clearlake was stopped in her Lexus sedan northbound on Highway 53 waiting to turn left on Polk Avenue.
Perez was standing at the rear of his parked 1997 Ford Ranger pickup on the shoulder of northbound Highway 53 facing north and south of Polk Avenue, the report said. Police had said Perez was doing landscaping work.
At the same time, Brown was driving his International flatbed tow truck northbound on Highway 53 at approximately 45 to 55 miles per hour.
The CHP said Brown saw Reyes' sedan stopped in the northbound lane with its left turn signal activated. He began to decelerate and apply the tow truck's brakes, but realized he would be unable to stop before hitting the Lexus.
Brown turned his vehicle to the right and continued braking, with the left of his vehicle hitting the right rear of the Lexus, causing minor damage, the CHP said.
After hitting Reyes' Lexus, Brown continued past that vehicle and went into the dirt shoulder toward Perez and the Ford pickup, according to the CHP.
The CHP report said the front of the tow truck hit Perez and then the rear of the tow truck hit the parked Ford pickup.
Perez was picked up by a REACH air ambulance to be flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, but Clearlake Police said he died en route.
Reyes sustained minor injuries and was taken to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for treatment, the CHP said. Brown was uninjured. Both Reyes and Brown were wearing seat belts.
Alcohol was not a factor in the Tuesday collision, according to the CHP.