Two people were killed, including a Eureka man, and several other members of a local family were injured in a fiery collision just after midnight on U.S. Highway 101 north of Willits. But a Good Samaritan pulled five injured passengers from the wreckage just before both vehicles burst into flames.
Three Eureka residents — identified as 43-year-old Rosa Delgado, 24-year-old Gilberto Delgado and 19-year-old Anajelica Delgado — suffered major injuries. Two children, a 1-year-old Eureka girl and a 7-year-old boy from Fortuna, received minor injuries in the head-on crash that killed both drivers, who were trapped inside as the vehicles became engulfed in flames.
A motorist who came upon the crash scene was able to get all of the passengers out of the 2008 Dodge Ram pickup that was hit when the driver of a 1994 Ford Bronco crossed over into its path, according to a California Highway Patrol release.
Neither driver has been identified. The CHP is investigating the fatal incident and reports that impaired driving may have been a factor in the crash.
Read the full release from the CHP below:
On 05-26-17, at approximately 12:30 A.M., a 1994 Ford Bronco was driving north on US-101, north of Reynolds Highway in Mendocino County. For unknown reasons, the Ford made a turning movement to the left and crossed over the double yellow lines, proceeding into the southbound traffic lane. At the same time, a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup was driving south on US-101, north of Reynolds Highway in Mendocino County. The Ford crossed into the opposing traffic lane right in front of the Dodge and the two vehicles collided head on. Both vehicles came to rest within the southbound and northbound traffic lanes and caught fire. The Dodge had five passengers inside, not including the driver. The drivers became trapped within the driver seats of their respective vehicles as a result of the collision.
Immediately after the collision, a Good Samaritan came upon the scene and got out of his vehicle in order to see if everyone was okay. He quickly realized that the fire was spreading and began to extricate everyone that he could from the Dodge. Due to his quick thinking and expediency, all five passengers from the Dodge were safely rescued from the vehicle. Unfortunately, the driver (identity being withheld pending family notification) was trapped in the driver seat as the Dodge became fully engulfed and suffered fatal injuries. The driver of the Ford (identity being withheld pending family notification) was also trapped and was not extricated before his vehicle became engulfed as well, and he suffered fatal injuries.
All injured parties were transported by ambulances from Ukiah, Willits and Laytonville to area hospitals. Personnel from Little Lake Fire Department, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, Willits Police Department, Verihealth, Laytonville Fire Department and Ukiah CHP assisted with the control of, and the investigation of, the collision scene. This collision remains under investigation by the Garberville CHP.
At this time, the cause of this collision is under investigation and it appears impaired driving may have been a factor as well.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the number of passengers.
This article appears in Prelude to a Sweep.
The little boy is my nephue whom i adore so much. I couldnt imagen loosing him. I know the beautiful family
i cant imagen all the pain they are in
my heart goes out to Rosa her husband and family who are suffering the loss of her husband
and the children who suffer the loss of their father
it is with respect and simpathy iam truly sorry for this horrible tragity.
Thank you father and angels
and
The person who pulled them from the viechal
You are a hero in the eyes of many.
Thank you for their very precious lives
Iam greatful and so so sorry
much love to all of the family and the unidenified man who saved my nephue
God bless
The unidentified Good Samaritan’s name is Lucas Zhao. https://www.facebook.com/lucas.zhao
My name is Tracy and it was actually my boyfriend who pulled all five from the burning vehicle.
Lynda, your nephew Jacob was the first one he pulled from the car and I brought him into our car and stayed with him until the authorities came and were finally able to take him away in the ambulance. Jacob is a lovely and brave boy and Im so very glad my boyfriend was able to help.
Aris as the other responder to the scene who held and took care of the one year old girl after my boyfriend also pulled her from the burning vehicle. Thank you, Aris.
I have no idea who Lucas is.
We are grateful for this article being published so that we could learn more about what happened and find you, Samantha.
We live in San Francisco. My boyfriend will be in touch soon.
Much love,
Tracy
Hi Lucas,
Please stop claiming responsibility for saving those five people in the accident. It was not you so why are you publicly lying saying it was?
My boyfriend is the true hero who saved those people.
You are the worst sort of human for claiming it was you. And in your post on your photography page it appears as though you are trying to make money off of this:. That makes you extra horrible.
https://m.facebook.com/lucas.zhao?ref=m_notifif_t=feed_comment
Be a true, caring and compassionate human and admit you were not the one.
We have proof it was my boyfriend on many levels. You don’t even state where the correct location of the accident was.
Lucas,
You say nothing of anybody else helping you.
If you were there, which I do not doubt that you were, you would have noticed that somebody actually pulled people out of the burning car, all of them. That person was my boyfriend.
Yes, from there you may have done some good and helped them away from the scene, that is amazing so thank you. But please do not claim responsibility for this on your own. Because thats simply not the truth.
Rebecca, we would love to be able to talk to Jacob again and of course his family. After he was pulled from the vehicle, I walked with him and brought him into our car in the front passenger seat so he could rest and wait for the authorities. I try to keep him as comfortable as possible and was trying to keep him calm. He is a very brave boy.
Tracy please contact me. My name is Beatrice Caffe. Find me on Facebook or something and message me. I would love to talk to you, and Nick. If you are willing to come forward and do an interview it would really help the family.
Thank you, Beatrice, What publication are you with?