On Friday, May 13, at approximately 3:24 PM, a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, with one male occupant [age 21] was traveling south on US-101 southbound, in the number two lane, south of Barkdull Road, in Humboldt County. A 2010 GMC Terrain, with one male occupant [Richard Banke, age 60, of McKinleyville] was traveling north on US-101 northbound, in the number two lane, south of Barkdull Road. For reasons still under investigation, the Oldsmobile drifted across the number one lane, over the paved divided section between the northbound and southbound lanes, across the northbound number one lane and directly into of the path of the GMC. The Oldsmobile and the GMC collided, head on, in the northbound number two lane. The driver of the Oldsmobile sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the GMC sustained major injuries and was transported by helicopter to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. The identity of the deceased is currently being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Agencies on scene were Cal Fire, Fortuna Fire, City Ambulance of Eureka, Weott Fire, Cal Trans, Humboldt County Sheriff Department, California State Parks and CHP.
This collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. It is unknown at this time if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision.
On May 14th, 2016, at approximately 1355 hours, Party #1 (Cordrey) (P-1) was driving Vehicle #1 (Toyota) (V-1) eastbound on State Route 36 (SR-36) near mile post marker 13.27. For reasons still under investigation, P-1 allowed V-1 to leave the roadway on the south side. V-1 then veered back onto the roadway where it overturned and came to rest in the westbound lane of SR-36. As a result of the collision, P-1 sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The eastbound and westbound lanes of SR-36 at the scene were closed to one-way traffic control for approximately 3 hours to facilitate the collision investigation and the gathering of evidence. P-1 was wearing his seatbelt and alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in this collision. The California Highway Patrol Humboldt area is investigating the collision.
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