LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Authorities have identified the two drivers involved in a Thursday wreck that claimed the life of one of them.
 
Norman Smith, 59, of Yolo County died in the Thursday afternoon wreck that occurred on Highway 20 west of New Long Valley Road, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Kory Reynolds.
 
Reynolds identified the second driver who survived as Jeffery Ford, 58, of Clearlake Oaks.
 
Ford suffered major injuries and was flown via a REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, as Lake County News has reported.
 
On Friday, Santa Rosa Memorial spokesperson Christina Harris said Ford was in critical condition.
 
The CHP said that just after noon on Thursday Smith was driving a 2011 Ford F-350 pickup westbound on Highway 20 at an unknown rate of speed when, for an unknown reason, his pickup crossed the double yellow lines into the eastbound lane.
 
Smith’s pickup collided with Ford, who was riding a 2017 BMW motorcycle eastbound at 55 miles per hour, the CHP reported.
 
The CHP said Ford had tried to evade Smith’s pickup but couldn’t avoid the crash and was thrown from the motorcycle.
 
The CHP said Smith died at the scene.
 
The investigation is continuing, but the CHP said neither drugs nor alcohol were contributing factors in the crash.
 
Smith was using his seat belt and Ford was wearing a helmet, the CHP said.
 
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