The following is a press release issued by the California Highway Patrol Garberville Office:
On July 4, 2024, at approximately 1935 hours, a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 was traveling east on Eel River Ranch Road, southeast of Hill Road. For reasons still under investigation, the driver allowed the Dodge to travel off the south road edge of Eel River Ranch Road and up a dirt embankment, causing the Dodge to overturn. The Dodge came to rest on its roof on Eel River Ranch Road, facing an easterly direction. Ruiz was able to self-extricate; however, the driver was trapped inside the vehicle. The Dodge caught fire and became fully engulfed in flames, which spread to nearby vegetation. This caused a full wildland fire response. The fire was quickly contained and determined to be the size of approximately 0.11 acre.
The driver of the Dodge was pronounced deceased at the scene by fire/medical personnel. It remains under investigation whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in this crash. The identity of the driver is being withheld until next of kin is notified.
This crash is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, Garberville Area.
CHP-288A-Fatal-Eel-River-Ranch-Road-SE-of-Hill-Road
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