SUTTER COUNTY, Calif. — Update: 10:42 p.m.
According to the California Highway Patrol, a juvenile was killed in a deadly multi-vehicle crash on Highway 99.
CHP said a 2008 Ford F-250 collided with a 1999 Acura Integra while heading southbound on Highway 99 south of Clark Road.
Due to slow moving traffic, the Acura was going about 15 miles per hour when the Ford hit the car's rear at 55 miles per hour.
Authorities with CHP said in a release that the driver didn't notice the slower moving vehicle due to "his inattention while texting on his cellphone." By the time the driver noticed them, he was too close and going to fast to avoid a collision.
When the Ford hit the Acura, it pushed it into the northbound lane, where it came to a stop, however, the impact also caused the juvenile passenger to be ejected from the car with fatal injuries, CHP said.
Authorities suspect that the Ford continued on southbound Hw-99 and collided into the rear of a 2008 Honda CRV that was also going 15 miles per hour. The Honda was noted as having been directly in front of the Acura.
The impact from the collision left the Ford airborne. It rolled over and ejected the driver onto the east shoulder of the highway. The Ford came to a stop on its roof and blocked the northbound lane.
Authorities identified the driver of the 2008 Ford as Omer Darz Gorsi, a 24-year-old man from Live Oak. He suffered moderate injuries.
The people in the Acura included a female Wheatland juvenile, 33-year-old female Erica Vargas, and driver Jorge Yanezperez, 31 female of Yuba City. Both Yanezperez and Vargas sustained major injuries.
Two vehicles in the northbound lane were also unable to avoid hitting the Ford and 1999 Acura. The driver of a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee was not injured, and the driver and passenger of the other vehicle, a 2010 Acura Integra, received minor injuries.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities say do suspect drugs and alcohol as a contributing factor. According to authorities, neither Gorsi or the juvenile were using safety equipment.
Update: 8:07 p.m.
According to Caltrans, Highway 99 has been reopened north of Highway 20 junction at Lomo Crossings.
Original Story:
According to the Sutter County Sheriff's Department, a four-vehicle collision that has shut down a portion of Highway 99 in Sutter County has resulted in the death of one person.
The four-vehicle crash had included one vehicle that was on its roof and on fire. Traffic had initially been blocked to northbound traffic on the highway, however Caltrans District 3 noted that both directions were blocked as an air ambulance was en route.
The identity of the victim has not been released at this time. Officers with the California Highway Patrol will be handling the investigation.
The road closure is ongoing and is impacting Highway 99 from Encinal Road to Clark Road.