How to resolve AdBlock issue? The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the wreck occurred shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday on Highway 29 near Argonaut Road outside of Lakeport.
The name of the woman who died was not released Thursday pending the notification of next of kin.
The CHP’s Thursday evening report said Charmaine Garcia, 66, of Kelseyville was traveling northbound on Highway 29, north of Argonaut Road, at approximately 50 miles per hour in her 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The woman who died in the wreck had been traveling southbound at 55 miles per hour in a 1998 Mazda Protege, the CHP said.
For a so-far unknown reason, the CHP said the Mazda’s driver failed to keep her vehicle on the right half of the roadway and drifted to the left into the northbound traffic lane, directly in front of Garcia’s Jeep.
The two vehicles collided head-on, becoming disabled and blocking both lanes of Highway 29, the CHP said.
The CHP said the Mazda’s driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Garcia suffered major injuries, including a possible broken foot and broken ribs, and was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment, the CHP reported.
Firefighters responding to the crash also reported that the engine compartment of one of the vehicles had been on fire when they arrived on scene, with that fire contained within about 15 minutes, based on radio traffic.
The CHP said Highway 29 was closed temporarily due to the wreck.
Caltrans responded to help set up a detour, with the highway finally reopening shortly after 1 p.m., the CHP said.
Both women were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the report.
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