Two Passengers Die, Three Others Hospitalized After Driver Veers into Opposing Traffic on Highway 101 near Orick

2 Killed, 3 Injured in Highway 101 Crash in Humboldt County

Humboldt County, California: Two people were killed, and three others were hospitalized after a head-on collision that happened Monday morning in Humboldt County.

The California Highway Patrol said the wreck involved a car and a semi-truck and occurred around 8:25 a.m. on Highway 101 near Orick.

The incident started when Sudipta Sarkar from Irvine, driving a 2015 Audi south on the highway veered into the northbound lane directly into the path of an oncoming 2023 Freightliner.

The front of the car collided with the front of the semi-truck and overturned onto its roof.

Sarkar and his four passengers got trapped inside the vehicle.

Emergency personnel responded and pronounced the front passenger of the Audi dead at the scene.

The passenger in the middle of the back seat was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries.

Sakar and the left rear passenger of the car were airlifted to the hospital with major injuries. A juvenile passenger was also hospitalized with moderate injuries.

Investigators said two passengers in the back seat of the Audi, one who died and one with major injuries, were not wearing seatbelts.

The semi-truck driver, Isaiah Coleman, was not hurt.

Authorities did not immediately determine why the Audi veered into opposing traffic, but an ongoing investigation is ongoing.