News

A 33-year-old Whitethorn man was killed this morning after his car ran off Briceland Thorn Road, hit a bridge railing and overturned into McKee Creek, the California Highway Patrol reports.

The driver, whose identity has not been released pending notification of family, was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been using a seatbelt.

According to the release, alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash that occurred just after 7 a.m.

Read the full CHP release below:

On 9/3/2019, at approximately 0708 hours, A 33-year-old male was driving a 2005 Mazda MPV Van, southbound on Briceland Thorn Rd., approaching McKee Creek, just south the Briceland Rd. Shelter Cove Rd. junction.

For reasons still under investigation, the male lost control of the Mazda, which ran off the east side of the road and collided with the bridge railing over McKee Creek. After colliding with the bridge, the Mazda overturned into the river bed below. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries he sustained in the collision. The driver's identification is being withheld pending notification.

Personnel from the California Highway Patrol responded to the scene, assumed and maintained incident command, and are investigating the collision.

Personnel from Cal-Fire, Whitethorn Volunteer Fire Department, Southern Humboldt Tech Rescue, and the Humboldt County Coroner's Office also responded to the scene.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the collision.