Robert G. Roe, 58, died at the scene of the crash, which took place just before 8 p.m. Tuesday on Highway 20 west of Witter Springs Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Roe was hit head-on by Tracy resident Daren K. Norman, 44, as Norman was attempting to pass a big rig, the CHP reported.
CHP officers later arrested Norman for driving under the influence.
Norman was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima westbound on Highway 20 just west of Witter Springs Road, while Roe was traveling eastbound in a 1990 Honda Civic hatchback, the report explained.
Rodney J. Lucero, 59, of Red Bluff was driving a 2005 International truck westbound ahead of Norman, who the CHP investigation concluded crossed over double yellow lines and attempted to pass Lucero on a blind curve at a high rate of speed.
Norman hit Roe's Honda head-on and sideswiped Lucero's truck, killing Roe and resulting in major injuries for Norman, CHP officials said. Lucero was uninjured.
REACH air ambulance landed a mile and a half to the east of the crash at the Half Diamond Ranch, and Northshore Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Pat Brown transported medical personnel to the scene, as Lake County News has reported.
Later, a Northshore Fire ambulance transported Norman back to the ranch, where he was picked up by REACH and taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment. At that time he also was placed under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, the CHP reported.
The CHP said all of the drivers were using their safety belts.
CHP Officer Kory Reynolds is leading the investigation.
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