On Sunday, a drive north of Tubbs Lane outside Calistoga turned deadly when a Jeep veered off State Route 128, slammed into trees and left one person dead and another badly injured, according to authorities and witnesses. The California Highway Patrol got the call around 1:26 AM and arrived to find the Jeep upright in a drainage ditch, the driver thrown from the vehicle and the passenger suffering visible head wounds. As of Tuesday, investigators had not yet identified the driver or determined what triggered the crash.
What happened
A witness told officers that a man, believed to be the driver, had been standing outside the wrecked Jeep while a woman nearby was bleeding from her head, according to the Napa Valley Register. That outlet reported that the Jeep crossed the center line, its front end hit a tree, and the rear end struck another tree before the vehicle finally came to rest, pointing southeast in the drainage ditch along the highway.
Investigators' initial findings
Preliminary investigators with the California Highway Patrol believe the Jeep first drifted to the right side of the road, then overcorrected left, which led to a loss of control. The CHP said the driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, while the passenger was rushed to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of head injuries.
Victim information and response
Authorities had not released the driver's name as of today, pending notification of family members. The passenger remained under care at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with head trauma. Napa-area fire and rescue crews responded to the scene, and traffic was temporarily blocked while the CHP and the coroner carried out their work, according to the Napa Valley Register.
Local safety context
The stretch of State Route 128 at Tubbs Lane is flagged in a 2025 Napa County road-safety study as a spot with limited visibility and a higher crash risk, part of a pattern local planners say deserves closer attention. As detailed by NVTA, Tubbs Lane and Highway 128 are among several focus areas where targeted infrastructure upgrades or stepped-up enforcement could help reduce serious collisions.
Investigation continues
The CHP said today that the investigation remains active and asked anyone with information or video from the area to contact the Golden Gate communications center. Officials said more details, including the identity of the driver, will be released once next-of-kin notifications are completed and as the investigation allows.
