News

SECOND UPDATE:



UPDATE:
The CHP today released new information on a fatal crash that occurred Dec. 18, which killed a 40-year-old Fortuna man, whose name has not yet been released. The case remains under investigation.  Read the full CHP release at the end of the story.

PREVIOUS: A fatal crash closed northbound U.S. Highway 101 north of the Singley Hill Road Exit last night for a couple of hours after a vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian.

The driver called 911 just before 8 p.m. to report they had accidentally hit a man just south of Loleta Drive, according to a report over the scanner. Emergency personnel also speaking over the scanner confirmed the victim was deceased soon after.

While both northbound lanes of the highway were closed, officers diverted traffic off the highway and around the crash scene.

On 12/18/2020, at approximately 1957 hours, the CHP Humboldt Communication Center (HCC) received a call of a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision on United States Route 101 (US-101) northbound, south of Loleta Drive. CHP, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, Fortuna Fire Department, and City Ambulance personnel responded to the scene. Based on CHP’s preliminary investigation, it appears this collision occurred when John Doe, a pedestrian dressed in dark clothing, walked in an easterly direction across US-101 northbound into the path of a 2010 Toyota driven by Ms. Pettyjohn. John Doe was knocked to the roadway and a 2006 Chevrolet, driven by Mr. Akin, subsequently collided with Doe’s body. Unfortunately, John Doe succumbed to his injuries on scene and was pronounced deceased at approximately 2007 hours. John Doe’s drug and/or alcohol impairment, and identification, are pending determination by the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office. No other parties were found to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of this collision.

The CHP is continuing to investigate this collision and asks anyone with information to contact the Humboldt Area CHP office at (707)822-5981. Please reference CHP Case Number 9125-2020-00933.