UPDATE (2:46 p.m.) – Officials with California Highway Patrol have released more details about the deadly crash on Highway 46 near Cholame Y.
Police say at about 6:26 a.m., Holga Godinezxochitla, 33, of Wasco, was driving a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer in the dirt parking area of the Jack Ranch Cafe, getting ready to turn left onto the eastbound lanes of Highway 46 just as a 2000 Toyota Sienna was approaching in the westbound lane of Highway 46.
CHP said for unknown reasons, Godinezxochitla didn’t see the Toyota minivan coming and pulled out directly into the path of the vehicle in the westbound lanes.
As a result of the impact, CHP said the passenger sitting in the left back seat of the Mitsubishi Lancer was ejected from the vehicle and thrown onto the road. The woman died at the scene. CHP has not released her name.
The other three people inside the Mitsubishi Lancer were transported to Sierra Vista Hospital with major injuries.
Seven people were inside the Toyota Sienna. CHP said none inside the minivan were injured. Earlier in the day, Cal Fire reported as many as nine were treated on scene for minor injuries.
CHP said drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be factors in the collision.
The crash remains under investigation.
UPDATE (9:21 a.m.) – A KSBY crew at the scene of Saturday’s crash says the crash site has cleared and CHP vehicles were seen leaving the area.
CHP officers say they are not able to release the description of the vehicles involved in the crash at this time, however, more information is expected to be released later in the day.
Stick with KSBY for updates on this developing story.
ORIGINAL STORY (8:14 a.m.) – The California Highway Patrol and firefighters are on the scene of a deadly two-vehicle collision on Highway 46 just west of the Cholame Y.
Cal Fire says one person was killed in the crash which occurred at 6:30 a.m. The agency says as many as 11 other people were injured including one with major injuries, one with moderate injuries, and 9 others with minor injuries.
Firefighters are asking travelers in the area to use caution as they approach the scene.
Firefighters at scene of major vehicle accident Hwy 46 just West of the Y.. please use caution in the area
— CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) March 23, 2019
CHP says the collision occurred in the eastbound lanes. The highway is open but traffic is being diverted around the scene.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
KSBY News has a crew en route to the scene. This story will be updated with further information when it becomes available.
A multi-million dollar state-funded roadway fix is in the works for the area which has been dubbed “Blood Alley.” Plans include roadway widening and an interchange.
According to Caltrans, that section of highway has seen three times the number of fatalities than the state average, a statistic highlighting the dangers that those who live or drive in the area know all too well.
In 1955, famous actor James Dean died in a head-on collision on Highway 46 at the Cholame Y.
