Wrong-way crash on Sutter County highway kills 1, sends infant and woman to hospital
A wrong-way crash on Highway 70 in Sutter County left one man dead and sent an infant and a woman to the hospital Tuesday night, officials said.
The California Highway Patrol says the collision happened around 7:26 p.m. in the southbound lanes of the highway near Striplin Road. Investigators say a red Toyota Corolla was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes when it collided head-on with a white Volkswagen Tiguan that was traveling southbound.
Prior to the crash, CHP received reports of a vehicle matching the Toyota's description driving the wrong way in the southbound lanes near Striplin Road.
It was initially reported that the Tiguan was traveling the wrong way, but the CHP issued an update on Wednesday. The CHP also released a video that shows the driver of the Toyota turning around.
The woman driving the Volkswagen suffered major injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. An infant, believed to be about one year old, was also inside the Volkswagen and was transported to the hospital in an unknown condition, the CHP said.
The man driving the Toyota Corolla died at the scene, officers say. He was identified as 23-year-old Miguel Sigala-Flores of Willows.
Wednesday, CHP says they learned that the woman's injuries were major while the infant's were minor to moderate. Both the woman and infant were properly restrained, officers say.
The crash is still under investigation. The CHP said it is not yet known whether alcohol or drugs were factors. Investigators noted that fog was present in the area at the time of the collision.
The crash caused an extended closure of southbound Highway 70 near the Highway 99 junction, Caltrans said. Officials were diverting drivers onto Striplin Road.
