A 22-year-old Redding man was killed and two others were hurt late Friday night when a pickup crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed head-on into their SUV on Dersch Road near Anderson, setting the vehicle on fire. A 15-year-old passenger managed to escape the burning Nissan Xterra before flames engulfed it, while the driver of the other vehicle was taken into custody with a broken leg.
The California Highway Patrol responded to the crash at around 11:45 p.m. Friday on Dersch Road west of Mossom Lane near Anderson, according to Action News Now. Investigators say a Chevrolet Silverado traveling eastbound on Dersch Road crossed over into the westbound lane, crashing head-on into a Nissan Xterra headed the opposite direction. The impact sent both vehicles off the roadway, and each came to rest on the north shoulder of Dersch Road.
Xterra Driver Killed, Teen Passenger Escapes Flames
The Nissan Xterra caught fire after the collision. The 22-year-old Redding man behind the wheel was pronounced deceased at the scene, the station's report states. His identity has not been released, as it is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
A 15-year-old juvenile riding in the Xterra managed to escape the vehicle before it caught fire, but suffered major injuries, including a broken clavicle and a broken right wrist, per the same account. One person was killed and two others were injured in the crash, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Silverado Driver Taken Into Custody
The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado, identified as 23-year-old Redding resident Onyz Young, exited his vehicle and escaped the flames as well. Young suffered a broken leg and was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol, the article notes.
Alcohol and drugs were believed to be a factor in the crash, per CHP. The crash investigation remains active and ongoing, according to the same source.
