This story has been updated with the name of the man who died; the California Highway Patrol also reported that the man was from Eureka, not McKinleyville, as the agency originally had reported.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A man from Eureka died on Wednesday morning after the semi truck he was driving was involved in a crash with another big rig.
The California Highway Patrol issued a Wednesday afternoon report detailing the crash that killed 45-year-old Robert Lee Wagner.
The report from CHP Officer Mark Crutcher explained that the crash occurred at approximately 5:55 a.m. on Highway 20, west of Irvine Avenue near Blue Lakes.
Donald Morton, 58, of Cotati was driving a 2009 Freightliner three-axle semi tank trailer westbound on Highway 20, traveling at about 45 to 50 miles per hour, Crutcher said. Wagner resident was driving the second vehicle, a 2011 Kenworth refrigerated food truck, eastbound.
As Morton was negotiating a righthand turn in the roadway, he lost control of the semi, which overturned on the driver’s side, Crutcher said.
Morton’s truck went into the eastbound lane and sideswiped the Kenworth, which Crutcher said traveled to the right of the roadway and hit a large tree head-on.
After hitting the tree, Wagner's Kenworth semi went down a steep embankment and came to rest partially submerged in the lake, Crutcher said.
Crutcher said Wagner was pronounced dead at the scene. A juvenile passenger in the Kenworth was flown to UC Davis Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries.
Morton, who also suffered moderate injuries, also was flown by air ambulance to UC Davis Medical Center, Crutcher said.
All three individuals were wearing safety equipment, according to Crutcher’s report.
Highway 20 near the crash scene remained closed for the rest of the morning and into the afternoon, according to CHP Officer Kory Reynolds.
Firefighters worked at the scene for several hours, as did CHP officers and other first responders, according to reports from the scene.
One-way controlled traffic was opened up about 2:30 p.m., with the highway not expected to fully reopen until about 6 p.m. Wednesday, Reynolds said.
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