Two Killed in Head-On Crash
On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 15, 2021, two Marysville residents were killed when the vehicle in which they were traveling overturned after a head-on crash with a stolen pickup truck in Olivehurst, California.
Details of the Incident
The deadly incident took place shortly after 2:00 p.m on Wednesday. A 25-year-old man from Los Molinos was driving a stolen truck and fleeing officers from the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department. The truck was a Ford pickup, and it had a trailer attached. During the pursuit, the man in the stolen truck was driving northbound in the southbound lanes on Highway 70. He eventually entered Highway 65 in the wrong direction and crashed head-on into a Dodge Durango. The trailer that was attached to the stolen Ford then crashed into a Chevy Silverado.
The Dodge Durango went into a roll following the impact. Both occupants of the Durango, later identified as a mother (55) and daughter (36) from Marysville, were transported to a local hospital where they tragically succumbed to their injuries.
The driver of the Chevy Silverado escaped without serious injuries.
Suspect Apprehended
According to the CHP, after the deadly wrong-way crash, the driver of the stolen Ford tried to run on foot but was apprehended and arrested by deputies from Yuba County. While in custody, he was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained, including a fractured leg. He will go directly to jail upon release from the hospital. The charges the driver of the stolen vehicle will face are numerous, and include:
- Auto theft
- Felony evasion
- Crossing a divided road
- Felony hit and run
- Murder (two counts)
In addition to the above, he faces multiple counts of probation violations that relate to earlier charges of stolen vehicles, according to representatives from the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department.
Continuing Investigation
The investigation into the collision remains open and is being handled by the Yuba-Sutter area office of the CHP.
The Wrongful Death of Two Marysville Residents
When someone loses their life as a result of the negligent conduct of another, that is known in civil law as wrongful death. The families of the deceased are able to sue for financial damages. In this instance, it is unclear if there would be an avenue of recovery since the vehicle was stolen and the driver was a repeat criminal, unlikely to have much money. The facts of the incident are still under investigation, however. It is possible a viable defendant may be located.
In terms of criminal activity, reports indicate the driver will be charged with two counts of murder. Many times in a car accident matter, if the driver is criminally charged for the death of another it is manslaughter. The actions of this driver, however, appear to have been so egregious, with knowledge and disregard of the consequences, that he may be held to a higher murder charge.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below explains wrongful death civil claims.
Yuba City Personal Injury Lawyer
Thank you for visiting our legal blog. I’m Ed Smith, a Yuba City personal injury attorney. We are saddened to report on this crash in which two Marysville residents, a mother and her daughter, lost their lives as a result of criminal behavior. Every day on our highways, negligence causes injuries and deaths. If you have been injured in a car crash, or your family has suffered the loss of a loved one due to negligence, our compassionate injury attorneys may be able to help. For free and friendly legal advice, dial (530) 392-9400. If you will be calling from outside the local area code, please use our toll-free line: (800) 404-5400.
Photo: by Didgeman via Pixabay
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