On Tuesday, a man in his 20s died in a solo-vehicle crash on eastbound U.S. Highway 50 in El Dorado Hills after his pickup truck went through a guardrail and tumbled down an embankment, partially shutting down the highway and keeping first responders on scene for hours; authorities said he was alone and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crash details
According to ABC10, California Highway Patrol officers responded just before 3:30 p.m. to eastbound Highway 50 east of Silva Valley Parkway. Investigators said a black Nissan Titan crossed lanes, ripped through the guardrail and went airborne over a roughly 100-foot drop, ejecting the driver, who was later pronounced dead. Witnesses told officers that speed might have played a role. Crews worked to recover the truck as the right lane stayed closed and traffic stacked up behind the scene.
Investigation and traffic
As reported by ABC10, CHP confirmed the fatality and said the crash choked off traffic on the busy corridor for hours while officers documented the scene and tow crews worked in the steep terrain. The agency urged drivers to slow down and give themselves extra space on wet roads while investigators sort out exactly what led up to the wreck.
Why it matters
The U.S. 50 corridor has seen multiple serious crashes this winter. In December, a single-vehicle wreck near Kyburz killed a Truckee Meadows fire battalion chief and his wife and left two children badly hurt, according to PEOPLE. Local officials and reporting have repeatedly pointed to the mix of wet weather, steep mountain grades and high speeds as a dangerous combination on Highway 50. CHP said it will release more details on the El Dorado Hills crash as the investigation moves forward, per KCRA.
