The California Highway Patrol is investigating a single-vehicle crash in Hoopa on Oct. 27 that killed one person who the agency is still working to identify.
The agency was notified of the incident at Matilton Road, just south of Loop Road, around 6:50 p.m. with the initial investigation finding the driver of a 2016 Dodge Challenger had been driving southbound when, for unknown reasons, they turned to the left, causing the vehicle to go over the east edge of the road and down a cliff.
“The Dodge impacted multiple trees and ultimately came to rest at the bottom of the cliff,” a news release states. “After coming to rest, the Dodge caught fire and became fully engulfed. The driver, and only occupant of the Dodge, was still inside when it caught fire and was unfortunately pronounced deceased on scene.”
CHP and the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office are “actively working” to confirm the identity of the driver, the release states, and the crash remains under investigation. At this time, it is unknown if drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.
The Hoopa Volunteer Fire Department, the Hoopa Tribal Police Department, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol responded to the crash and assisted at the scene.
The CHP asks anyone with information related to the investigation to call (707) 822-5981. See the full release here.
This article appears in Why California Housing Costs are So High.