A fatal crash involving a single vehicle late Wednesday claimed the life of a woman near Interstate 80 in Auburn, local authorities reported. According to the Sacramento Bee, the incident occurred around 11:50 p.m. and was first thought to involve a semi-truck and a pedestrian. However, law enforcement at the scene discovered that the crash was solely attributed to the woman's vehicle striking a bridge's concrete support.
The California Highway Patrol stated that the driver, behind the wheel of a silver Acura MDX, lost control for reasons yet to be determined. Her vehicle collided with the center divider, and then a concrete post of the Nevada Street bridge, leading to her ejection from the car. The woman, who reportedly was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash, died at the scene. The ABC10 noted that the area was closed for a few hours following the incident but, has since reopened to traffic.
As of now, officials have not made public whether substances such as drugs or alcohol were contributing factors in the wreck. "While mechanical failure is not suspected, it is still unknown whether alcohol or drugs played a role in this incident," the California Highway Patrol mentioned in a news release obtained by the Sacramento Bee. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the circumstances that led up to the fatal event.
The identity of the deceased has not been disclosed pending notification of next of kin by the Placer County Coroner's Office. The California Highway Patrol's Valley Division office is encouraging anyone with information about the crash to come forward and contact them at 916-663-3344, the Sacramento Bee reports.
