Young Couple Killed in Truckee Head-On Crash
On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 25, 2021, two young adults were killed in a head-on crash that occurred on Highway 89 in Truckee, California.
At approximately 3:25 p.m., a head-on collision occurred between a sedan and a commercial semi-truck. The events leading up to the crash are still under investigation and a cause has yet to be determined.
Information about the Victims
The two young adults that were tragically killed in the crash were graduates of Berkeley High School and were boyfriend and girlfriend. Ross Schultz was 20 years of age and was a student at Cal Poly Pomona. Dixie Lewis was 19 and a talented softball player and an excellent student. Their vehicle had been traveling north on State Route 89 when it collided with a big rig, driven by a 45-year-old from Fernley, Nevada. The big rig had been traveling south on the same stretch of road, and the truck driver sustained minor injuries.
The families of both of the deceased have expressed that they are experiencing intense grief. Our hearts go out to those that the two young people left behind.
Miss Lewis was the daughter of best-selling author Michael Lewis and photographer Tabitha Soren.
Details of the Investigation
When first responders arrived at the scene, they observed that the sedan was pinned beneath the big rig. Emergency medical treatment was administered at the scene, but the two occupants of the sedan were ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
According to reports from the CHP, impaired driving is not suspected to have played a role in the crash.
The day following the accident, Wednesday, May 26th, the Truckee office of the CHP tweeted the request that anyone who witnessed the accident reach out to them via direct message, telephone, or in person.
Watch the YouTube video. Below is a news clip from KRON 4 reporting on the tragedy.
State Route 89 in Truckee, California
The segment of SR 89 on which Tuesday’s accident occurred is a two-lane north/south highway with no center divider. The highway traverses the western shore of Lake Tahoe, passing through Camp Richardson and Emerald Bay. It travels through the Tahoe National Forest, then crosses into Nevada County and the city of Truckee. The highway briefly runs concurrently with eastbound Interstate 80, then exits to the north, continuing through the city of Truckee.
The Dangers of Two-Lane Highways
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that on average, twice as many fatal highway accidents happen on two-lane roads. This is due to the fact that head-on collisions cause a disproportionate number of deaths, and the majority of head-on crashes take place on two-lane roads without center dividers. Studies reveal that one of the primary causes of head-on crashes is improper passing.
Truckee Wrongful Death Lawyer
Hello and thank you for reading our report on this tragic loss of two young adults in a Truckee head-on collision. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a wrongful death lawyer serving the Truckee, California region. The compassionate lawyers at our firm understand the grief that families endure following a sudden, untimely death. If the death is caused by the negligence of another, those feelings of grief can be complicated by other emotions such as anger, frustration, and guilt. If your family has suffered a great loss as a result of the negligence of another person or entity, the skilled injury lawyers at our firm are available to provide free and friendly legal advice. Reach out to us with your questions at (530) 392-9400, or from outside the local area code, please use our toll-free number: (800) 404-5400.
For more than 38 years, our firm has advocated on behalf of Northern California families in wrongful death matters. Review some of our case histories on our case settlements and verdicts page. For further insight about the services we offer, please visit the sites below that feature reviews from prior clients:
Photo: Pixabay
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