A deadly head-on crash on a rural stretch of Marysville Road in Yuba County Thursday afternoon left a woman dead and another driver injured, shutting down the two-lane route for hours while investigators worked the scene.
The collision happened shortly after 2 p.m. on Marysville Road, south of Bald Mountain Road, when a Nissan Maxima crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed into a Toyota Tacoma. Emergency crews arrived to find both vehicles badly damaged. One driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and the roadway was closed while authorities launched their investigation.
According to ABC10, the driver of the Nissan Maxima, a woman who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. CHP told the outlet the Maxima driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI and later released from jail, and that officials are withholding the person’s name until next of kin are notified. The driver of the Toyota Tacoma was taken to Adventist Health and Rideout in Marysville with minor injuries.
Where It Happened
Marysville Road is a narrow, winding two-lane route that runs past Collins Lake and through the Stanfield Hill area, a stretch that locals know has seen more than its share of serious wrecks in recent years. Last October, a separate head-on crash near Collins Lake left six people hurt, including three children, as reported in Six Injured Near Collins Lake.
Investigation and Legal Status
CHP investigators told ABC10 they believe alcohol may have been a factor. They also said the Maxima’s driver had been involved in a pursuit with CHP’s Grass Valley office the previous night. The case has now been handed to the CHP Yuba office, which is continuing the investigation and asking anyone with information to contact their investigators.
The roadway remained shut down for several hours while crews removed debris and documented the scene. Officials say a full collision report, including toxicology results, will be released once the CHP investigation is complete.
