Ford Collides with Semi-Truck on 99 East
In the early morning hours of Saturday, May 8, 2021, a 24-year-old Red Bluff man was killed when his vehicle collided with a Freightliner truck. The crash occurred on State Route 99E north of Cone Grove.
The deceased man had been driving north on SR99E at approximately 12:40 a.m. in a 2008 Ford, pursuant to a California Highway Patrol (CHP) press release. A Freightliner truck was being driven in the southbound direction of SR 99E by a 53-year-old driver from Chico at the same time.
Not Enough Time to Pass
The Ford driver was attempting to pass a vehicle in front of him and moved into the southbound lane. Tragically, there was not enough room for him to safely pass, and the left front of the Ford struck the left front of the oncoming semi-truck.
After impact, the Ford came to rest on the east shoulder, flipped onto the passenger side. The Freightliner stayed upright and came to a stop on the east shoulder. The driver of the Ford, although he had been wearing his seat belt, suffered fatal injuries. The semi-truck driver, also properly restrained, escaped injury.
Post-Accident Details
Following the accident, while investigators were collecting evidence at the scene, traffic was funneled into one lane, which allowed the roadway to remain open.
The crash was under investigation by the Red Bluff CHP. The use of alcohol may have played a role in the incident.
Passing Accidents
Passing a vehicle on a two-lane highway is a risky maneuver and should be executed only when absolutely necessary and with extreme caution. Collisions that occur when one vehicle misjudges the amount of time available to pass a slower vehicle are some of the most devastating accidents because they are head-on and often high-speed.
When is it Safe to Pass?
When determining whether it is safe for you to pass a slower-moving vehicle, you must consider road, traffic, and weather conditions. You should never try to pass another vehicle if by doing so you are in greater danger than if you continued to follow the slower-moving car. A general rule is that one should not try to pass unless the leading car is traveling more than 10 mph slower than optimal. Even in that situation, passing should not be attempted until a safe opportunity arises.
Here are some questions to ask yourself before you attempt to pass the vehicle in front of you:
- Is it legal to pass on this stretch of road? Broken lane lines indicate that passing is allowed. Solid lines indicate that it is prohibited.
- Do you have enough forward visibility? Your long-range view should be unobstructed by any curves, trees, or other visual obstacles.
- Is there enough space to safely complete the pass? When making this determination, one should be conservative with how much time is required. You should be able to return to your original lane of travel with at least 200 feet between your vehicle and any oncoming cars.
Watch the YouTube video below that looks at when it is safe to pass on a two-lane road.
Red Bluff Personal Injury Attorney
Thanks for reading our report on this tragic Ford versus Freightliner collision. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a personal injury attorney serving the Red Bluff area. Head-on collisions are devastating. Accidents between passenger vehicles and big rigs are often fatal crashes. For nearly 40 years, my firm has advocated on behalf of injured Northern Californians. We have also assisted many grieving families by handling their wrongful death claims. If you have been injured in a car crash caused by another person’s negligence, call us for free and friendly legal advice at (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400.
It can be daunting doing research to find the best attorney to handle your case. Reviews from past clients can help with that decision. Please visit the links below to read reviews of our firm:
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