Deadly Crash Outside the Gates of Beale AFB
On the morning of Tuesday, October 12, 2021, a 29-year-old man from Yuba City lost his life in a two-vehicle crash that occurred just outside the gates of Beale Air Force Base, according to representatives from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Details of the Yuba County Crash
Calls came in reporting the crash just after 7:00 a.m. According to information released by the Yuba-Sutter area office of the CHP, the crash site was reported as Hammonton-Smartsville Road, just east of Doolittle Drive and the Doolittle Gate to Beale AFB. The Yuba City resident was reportedly driving at a high rate of speed in a 2008 Infinity M35. Witnesses say the Infinity was traveling east on Hammonton-Smartville and was passing other vehicles.
Witnesses Reported High Speeds
There were two independent witnesses that told CHP officials that they had seen the speeding Infinity prior to the crash. Both of the witnesses said they had been driving their own vehicles at speeds ranging from 65 – 70 m.p.h., and both said the Infinity passed them at a higher speed. When the Infinity entered a curve, the man behind the wheel lost control of the vehicle, and the sedan spun out into the westbound lane. At that point, according to the CHP, the rear end of the Infinity crashed into a Clark Pest Control truck – a Ford F-150 – that had been traveling west on the same stretch of road at approximately 55 m.p.h.
After the impact with the Clark Pest Control truck, the Infinity caught fire. The driver of the Infinity was trapped in his seat and suffered fatal injuries, according to the CHP report.
Condition of the Other Involved Driver
The driver of the Clark Pest Control truck was a 53-year-old man from Grass Valley. He was injured and had pain complaints at the scene but chose to seek his own medical care rather than be transported by ambulance to a hospital.
Traffic Control After the Crash
Following the fatal car crash, Hammonton-Smartville Road was shut down for close to three hours while CHP officers conducted evidence collection and the involved vehicles were removed from the scene. The Doolittle Gate to the Air Force Base was also closed for a period of time.
The name of the deceased Yuba City man has not yet been released, pending notification of his family.
Dangerous Curves
According to witnesses to events that led to this tragic crash, the Infinity driver lost control of his vehicle while driving on a curved road. He had been seen driving at a high rate of speed before that, so one can assume that he may have taken the curve too fast, which caused him to lose control of his vehicle. Driving into a curve at too high of a speed is very dangerous. Most crashes that happen on curved roads could have been prevented if the driver had reduced their speed. Be on the lookout for road signs indicating that there are upcoming curves in the road and slow down accordingly.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below instructs drivers on maintaining vehicle control when driving on curvy roads.
Yuba City Personal Injury Lawyer
Thank you for reading our report on this tragic accident near Beale AFB. I’m Ed Smith, a Yuba City personal injury lawyer. Most accidents are caused by driver error. If you have been injured in a crash caused by another driver’s negligence, our firm can help. We also handle wrongful death matters for grieving families with great care and compassion. For free and friendly legal advice, call us at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400. Alternatively, you can send your inquiry via our online form.
Photo: by Sixteen Miles Out via Unsplash
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