KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol is investigating a Thursday morning crash that killed a big rig driver.
The head-on, multiple-vehicle wreck occurred on Highway 29 between Highway 175/Cobb and Kit's Corner near Smith Ranch Road at about 8:15 a.m., according to initial CHP reports.
CHP officers remained on scene mid-afternoon, with the highway reopening just before 3 p.m. after being closed for several hours while the investigation took place. Traffic was rerouted around the area.
A full report on the incident was pending from the CHP as of 3:30 p.m.
Witnesses reported that the big rig container truck was heading northbound on Highway 29 when the crash occurred in the area between Bayshore Marine Services and Kelseyville Auto Salvage.
A vehicle was seen swerving into the path of the big rig, which attempted to avoid hitting the vehicle and subsequently lost control.
The big rig was reported to have hit that first vehicle and then another before losing the container and flipping onto its top, according to witness reports.
Radio reports confirmed that CHP officers and firefighters arriving on scene found the big rig driver trapped in the cab, with the truck blocking the entire roadway. Two damaged passenger vehicles also were at the crash site.
Kelseyville Fire called for additional medic units, with Lake County Fire responding with assistance, according to radio reports.
Shortly after arrival, emergency personnel reported that the big rig driver had died. The CHP also confirmed that the crash resulted in a fatality.
Another patient had moderate to major injuries, with an an air ambulance called in to transport that individual.
Firefighters on scene needed to extricate the patient – who had a fractured left leg – before transferring them to the landing zone at Kit’s Corner, where REACH 6 was waiting, according to reports from the scene.
REACH 6 transported the patient to Santa Rosa Memorial, radio reports stated.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
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