CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A single-vehicle crash on Thursday evening resulted in a reported fatality and an extended closure of Highway 20.

The wreck involved a pickup that went over the stone wall on Highway 20 west of Island Drive outside of Clearlake Oaks just before 5:30 p.m.

The vehicle was reported to have hit the embankment and lost control before going into Clear Lake, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Firefighters arriving on the scene found the pickup upside down in the water with one person trapped inside and several people trying to help rescue the crash victim. A firefighter was reported to have gone into the vehicle to attempt to locate the occupant.

At 5:40 p.m., Northshore Fire reported that they had located a victim but were having trouble pulling the person from the vehicle, and an air ambulance was requested. CalStar 4 accepted and was set to arrive after 6 p.m.

However, at about 5:50 p.m., the air ambulance was canceled and work to recover the victim continued.

Just before 7:30 p.m., the victim’s body was reported to have been extricated from the pickup, according to radio reports.

Meantime, the crash and the emergency response closed down Highway 20. Traffic was reported to have been backed up for miles in both directions, with drivers trying to find ways around the closure on nearby roads, including Lake Street and Widgeon Way.

The CHP reported that Highway 20 was completely reopened at 10 p.m.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.