Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Mendocino Coast Crash Claims Ojai Man’s Life After Van Veers Off SR-1

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[Stock photo by Matt LaFever]

Tragedy struck this weekend on Saturday, March 9, 2024, with one person losing their life in a solo vehicle crash on State Route 1 (SR-1) near the Mendocino Coast town of Westport.

According to the CHP press release, the driver involved was identified as a 73-year-old man from Ojai. The investigation revealed that the driver was operating a 2006 BraunAbility E350 van southbound on SR-1 at an undetermined speed. For reasons yet unknown, the driver made an unsafe turning movement around 10:13 a.m., causing the van to cross the west solid white line of SR-1 and leave the roadway.

The BraunAbility E350 continued its trajectory down a descending embankment, colliding with a fence before overturning and ultimately crashing into a tree. The van came to rest on its right side, facing south. Despite wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, the driver succumbed to injuries.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the cause of death, with alcohol and/or drugs ruled out as factors in the collision.

As first responders and the Incident Commander arrived on the scene, they found the occupant unconscious. By 10:45 a.m., the party was declared deceased, and authorities requested the dispatch of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office coroner.

Throughout the incident, SR-1 was temporarily closed as a tow truck attempted to extricate the van. The roadway was open to all traffic by 1:30 p.m. that afternoon.


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Matt LaFever
Matt LaFeverhttps://mendofever.com/
For the past seven years, Matt LaFever has covered the North Coast of California in both print and radio news. A Humboldt State graduate, he has lived in the Emerald Triangle for nearly 20 years. His reporting spans local issues like crime and wildfires. When not writing, Matt is an avid outdoorsman, exploring Northern California’s rugged landscapes. Reach out to him at matthewplafever@gmail.com.

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