Fatal Crash In Concord Tuesday

A 2-car crash at Kirker Pass and Hess Road left one person dead and another critically injured Tuesday, the wreck forcing closure of Kirker Pass Road and severely impacting traffic throughout the area.

The crash was reported at 5:24 p.m. and quickly expanded as motorists reported a vehicle on fire and serious injuries. One person was airlifted from the scene by helicopter as crews worked to put down a fire which spread to adjacent vegetation and to free a trapped motorist.

Highway Patrol officers dispatched to the scene arrived to find a two-vehicle crash at the northernmost intersection of northbound Kirker Pass Road and Hess Road in Concord. They determined that a Ford Fusion stopped at the westbound Hess Road intersection attempted to make a left turn onto southbound Kirker Pass Road. While turning, it pulled into the path of a Toyota Sienna traveling northbound on Kirker Pass Road, resulting in the Toyota crashing into the Ford’s driver side.

The Ford was occupied by an adult female driver and a 14-year-old male passenger in the front right seat. The Toyota was solely occupied by an adult female driver. The driver of the Ford sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The 14-year-old sustained suspected major injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. The driver of the Toyota sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Both the 14-year-old and Toyota driver are expected to recover from their injuries, according to the CHP.

An impaired driving investigation was conducted, and DUI was ruled out as a factor in the crash.
Both northbound and southbound lanes of Kirker Pass Road were closed at approximately 5:35 p.m., for on-scene investigation, and were re-opened at approximately 8:40 p.m.

The crash remains under investigation.