Multi-vehicle Crash Shuts Down Highway 65 in Yuba County, Claims Life of 18-year-old
OLIVEHURST – An 18-year-old North Highlands resident died in a crash that closed a portion of Highway 65 in Yuba County for many hours Wednesday afternoon, according to authorities.
According to the California freeway Patrol’s Yuba-Sutter division, a multi-vehicle incident occurred shortly after 2 p.m. on the southbound side of the freeway near McGowan Parkway in the Olivehurst neighborhood.
An inquiry revealed that the 18-year-old was driving a Toyota Camry when he attempted to pass a 22-year-old in a Honda Accord.
Officers claimed the Honda made a left turn when the Toyota was passing, leading the 18-year-old to lose control and crash into the Toyota’s right rear.
The Toyota began spinning anticlockwise before slamming into the McGowan Parkway flyover embankment. It then overturned multiple times, according to the CHP.
Witnesses intervened and cut the driver’s seatbelt, removing him from the Toyota. Despite life-saving efforts, cops say he died on the scene.
The Honda driver did not sustain any injuries. However, a passenger in the Honda was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
The CHP reported that two passengers in the Toyota were sent to the hospital with moderate to slight injuries.
The incident forced the southbound lanes to close for several hours.
Officers stated that DUI was not a factor in the incident.
Traffic was directed off at McGowan but was allowed to re-enter the freeway via the McGowan on-ramp. Caltrans stated northbound traffic was unaffected.
The Highway 65 corridor connects Yuba and Placer Counties. Olivehurst is a city around 40 miles north of Sacramento.