News

A passenger in a minivan was killed and two others were seriously injured in a car crash on State Route 299 this morning, according to the CHP.

According to a California Highway Patrol release, 63-year-old Eureka resident Mark Lindley lost control of his vehicle on the wet roadway west of Willow Creek just before 6 a.m. and collided head-on with a minivan being driven by Kevin McConnell, 47, from Hoopa.

McConnell and a 77-year-old passenger were seriously injured and another person in the vehicle was killed. No other information, including the individual’s age, was immediately released.

Lindley and his passenger were uninjured. Impairment is not considered a factor in the crash, according to the CHP.

Read the CHP release below:

On 10-6-2018, at approximately 550 AM, 63 year old Mark Lindley of Eureka was driving his 1999 Ford F350 east on SR-299, west of Willow Creek, when he lost control on a wet roadway. The pickup traveled into the westbound lane and collided head-on with a 2016 Dodge Caravan, driven by 47 year old Kevin McConnell of Hoopa. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and located a deceased passenger in the van. McConnell, as well as another passenger in the van, 77 year old Gwendolyn Vanpelt of Hoopa, suffered serious injuries and were transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.
Mr. Lindley and his passenger, 48 year old Jason Lawrence of Bayside, were uninjured. Identification of the deceased passenger is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The California Highway Patrol Humboldt Area is investigating this collision and impairment is not considered to have been a factor.
The CHP would like to remind motorists that with the transition into Fall, adverse weather conditions can be expected. Please allow additional travel time for trips. Please be aware that due to recent fires, rocks and other debris may suddenly appear in the roadway. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Road Conditions Hotline is always available for motorists to check the status of road conditions before they travel. Call 1-800-427-ROAD (1-800-427-7623) to check those conditions.