A Chevrolet pickup crashed off Highway 50 east of Kyburz on Sunday afternoon, killing two adults and critically injuring two children, the California Highway Patrol said. The single-vehicle crash happened shortly before 3:15 p.m. on the south side of the highway. An 8-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl were airlifted to a trauma center with what officials described as possible major injuries. Officials said the two adults in the front seats, who appeared to be the children’s parents, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Crash details and response
CHP investigators said the pickup had been traveling at unsafe speeds, and that driving under the influence is not suspected at this time, according to CBS News Sacramento. One-way traffic control was put in place while emergency crews worked, and officials reported only minimal long-term impact to highway traffic.
Rescuers spent hours extricating the children from the wrecked vehicle after it left the road at Riverside Road and hit a tree. The parents died at the scene, and the children were flown out to a trauma center with possible major injuries, KCRA reported. Officials have not released the names of the victims, pending notification of relatives.
Investigation underway
CHP said investigators are continuing to examine speed and other potential factors as they work to determine what led up to the crash, and they are asking anyone with information or dashcam video to contact the agency's area office, as per CBS News Sacramento. The exact identities of those killed have not yet been made public.
