News

A 25-year-old Eureka man was killed late last night when a Jeep that he was in overturned on a “rough private mountain dirt trail” on a property east of Dinsmore, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The man, whose name has not been released, is the fifth traffic fatality to hit the region over the last few days. The Jeep's driver was uninjured and has cooperated with the investigation, the CHP release states.

Another man, identified by the Times-Standard as a 20-year-old Orange County resident Esteban Gonzalez Espinoza, died June 23 after driving a Honda into the path of an oncoming car while overcorrecting on State Route 36. Extreme speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors in the crash.

Two days later, in the early morning hours, three others died in a fiery single-car crash on Patrick’s Point Drive. Forty-four-year-old Trinidad resident James Cohee Jr., 28-year-old Eureka resident Chloe Chapman and 32-year-old Arcata resident Cody Behler died at the scene. None were wearing seatbelts.

Read the CHP release below:

On 06/25/2019, at approximately 2318 hours, Humboldt Area CHP responded to a report of a vehicle collision on SR-36, east of Dinsmore several miles onto a rough private mountain dirt trail. Upon arrival, officers determined a 1984 Jeep Laredo had been involved in a solo roll-over traffic collision. While traveling northbound on the rough private mountain dirt trail, the Jeep slid to the side and overturned, pinning the 25 year old passenger.

Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and provided aid to the involved parties, however, the passenger of the Jeep did not survive his injuries and was pronounced deceased. Trey Bulleri was uninjured and was cooperative with the investigation.

Identification of the passenger of the Jeep is pending notification of next of kin.

The California Highway Patrol Humboldt Area is continuing its investigation into this collision and is asking anyone with additional information to contact the Humboldt Area CHP Office at 707-822-5981 or send an email to [email protected].