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.