LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Fortuna woman died following a two-vehicle crash near Clearlake Oaks on New Year’s Eve.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office reported that the crash occurred just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday on Highway 20 at Harvey Boulevard.
The woman who died in the crash was identified as Donna Jean Farfan, 57, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The CHP said Farfan was driving her 2011 Ford sedan westbound on Highway 20 while Ronald Kern, 67, of Elk Grove was driving his 2017 Chevrolet SUV eastbound with 63-year-old Patricia Sholian riding as his passenger.
For an unknown reason, the CHP said Farfan allowed her car to cross over the double yellow lines into the eastbound oncoming traffic lane.
As a result, Farfan’s sedan collided head-on with Kern’s SUV, the CHP said.
The CHP said that, following the collision, Farfan was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kern and Sholian were transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital and treated for major injuries, the CHP said.
The report said Kern and Sholian were wearing their seat belts but Farfan was not.
As of the Tuesday report, the CHP said it was unknown if alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.
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Woman dies in New Year’s Eve vehicle crash
- Elizabeth Larson
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