Around 4 p.m. June 23, California Highway Patrol responded to a vehicle collision on State Route 36, west of Dinsmore. According to the CHP release, a 1988 Honda Sedan crashed head-on with a 2018 Dodge truck driven by Eureka resident Nate Howle, 44. The driver of the Honda reportedly drove the car onto the shoulder before steering it back to the oncoming lane, where it collided with the Dodge.
The driver of the Honda, whose name is being withheld pending family notification, was pronounced deceased by emergency personnel after their arrival. Extreme speed and alcohol are believed to be a factor in the crash.
CHP is continuing its investigation and is asking anyone with additional information to contact the Humboldt Area CHP Office at 822-5981, or send an email to humboldt_area.humboldt_area@chp.ca.gov.
Read the full press release below:
On 06/23/2019, at approximately 1554 hours, Humboldt Area CHP responded to a report of a vehicle collision on SR-36, west of Dinsmore. Upon arrival officers determined a 1988 Honda sedan had been involved in a head-on collision with a 2018 Dodge Pickup driven by 44 year old Nate Howe of Eureka. While traveling eastbound on SR-36 the driver of the Honda allowed it to drift on to the shoulder before traveling back across the road and into the oncoming lane where it collided with the Dodge.
Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and provided aid to the involved parties, however the driver of the Honda did not survive his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Identification of the driver of the Honda is pending notification of next of kin.
Excessive speed and alcohol are believed to have been a factor in this collision.
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 to send an email to humboldt_area.humboldt_area@chp.ca.gov.
This article appears in The Gray Whale Die-off.
More patrolling is needed on 36. More routine stops and check points are needed on 36. Seems there have been more accidents on 36 in the past weeks than on coastal highways. Sound like this accident happened on a Sunday. Maybe I am to critical but with the amount of traffic on 36 a lot more patrolling is needed.