Oroville, CA : A man died in a head-on crash on Tuesday, September 12, 2017

A man died in a head-on crash Tuesday at the intersection of Highway 162 and Kelly Ridge Road in east Oroville, officers said.

His name was not immediately released at the scene pending notification of family, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Cliff Morrison said.

The crash happened about 3:45 p.m., when a man driving an older model Volkswagen Beetle was westbound on the highway in the intersection, which is near Lakeside Market and Gas.

At the same time a woman driving a Jeep Cherokee began making left turn from the highway toward Kelly Ridge Road and drove into the path of the Volkswagen, Morrison said.

The cars collided head on, and the man in the Volkswagen died at the scene.

The woman driving the Jeep suffered unspecified injuries and was taken to a local hospital. A firefighter at the scene said a child was restrained in a car seat in the Jeep but appeared OK.

No other injuries were reported.

Morrison said it was not immediately clear who was at fault in the wreck.

The sergeant said the woman — whose name also was not released at the scene — told officers she was turning left under a protected green light.

But witnesses at the scene indicated the woman may have been turning against a red light, Morrison said.

Both cars sustained significant front-end damage and were towed away.

Whether alcohol or drugs may have played a role remained under investigation, the sergeant said.

No arrests were immediately made.

Morrison said crashes at intersection of Highway 162 and Kelly Ridge Road are not uncommon, but reasons for crashes vary.

“This is a regular for us,” he said.

Morrison added, “There’s nothing inherently dangerous about the intersection. It’s relatively clear and unobstructed from all directions. In many cases it’s driver inattention.”

The roadway was partially blocked for a period as officers and firefighters worked at the scene.

Source :
Man dies in head-on crash in east Oroville