Fatal Etna Creek Crash

**Jan Lee, 70 years old visiting from
Phoenix, Arizona **

On July 18th, 2023, at approximately 1727 hours, Yreka CHP Communications Center (YCC) received a call from reporting parties who located a vehicle overturned into Etna Creek off of Sawyers Bar Road.  The reporting parties related they observed a person inside the vehicle that appeared deceased.  The reporting parties returned to an area with cellular service and called for emergency assistance.  The reporting parties directed law enforcement personnel to where the vehicle was located.

On July 18th, 2023, at approximately 1727 hours, Yreka CHP Communications Center (YCC) received a call from reporting parties who located a vehicle overturned into Etna Creek off of Sawyers Bar Road.  The reporting parties related they observed a person inside the vehicle that appeared deceased.  The reporting parties returned to an area with cellular service and called for emergency assistance.  The reporting parties directed law enforcement personnel to where the vehicle was located.  A Cal-fire firefighter and a Siskiyou County Sheriff Deputy rappelled down the steep 300 foot embankment to check on the vehicle.  The vehicle was located on its roof in a steep gully.  The driver was located inside the vehicle still seat belted in the driver seat and was confirmed to be deceased.  The vehicle was recovered that evening and the driver was taken to Girdner’s Funeral Chapel.  

Based on the physical evidence at the scene it was determined that the white Kia Sorento was travelling westbound on Sawyers Bar Road, west of the Mill Creek Bridge.  As the roadway ascends and makes a sharp curve to the right, the driver allowed the vehicle to leave the roadway onto the southeast shoulder which caused the vehicle to overturn and roll down the steep embankment.  The vehicle rolled multiple times and came to rest in the base of Etna Creek.  The driver sustained fatal injuries as a result of this collision.  Upon initial inspection of the seat belt and safety mechanism, it was apparent that the driver was wearing the seat belt.

It is unknown of the speed the vehicle was traveling at the time of the crash and it is unknown on the exact date or time of when the crash occurred. Multiple agencies including, Cal-Fire, Fort Jones Fire, Etna P.D. Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department, and Yreka CHP responded to this crash to assist with the recovery of the vehicle and driver.  

Yreka CHP is handling the collision investigation and the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office is handling the Coroner’s investigation.  Alcohol does not appears to be a factor in this collision. 

Source: Report of Collision – News Release, CHP 288A

STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
An Internationally Accredited Agency

REPORT OF COLLISION – NEWS RELEASE

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