A tragic collision on the night of July 9 claimed the lives of two Fort Bidwell residents when a red 2016 Nissan Versa veered off the roadway and overturned along SR-299, west of County Road 195.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) report, the crash occurred at approximately 9:45 p.m. as the vehicle traveled eastbound on SR-299. For reasons still under investigation, the vehicle’s driver allowed it to drift off the south shoulder of the roadway. The car then plunged down a steep embankment, overturning multiple times before coming to rest.
Both occupants of the vehicle, a 69-year-old male driver and a 79-year-old female passenger—both residents of Fort Bidwell—sustained fatal injuries at the scene. Their identities have not been publicly released, pending notification of next of kin. Their remains were transported to Kerr Mortuary.
The weather at the time was reported as clear and dry, with no indications of hazardous conditions. CHP investigators have stated that alcohol or drug impairment is not suspected to have played a role in the crash.
As of now, authorities have not determined the speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the time of the incident. The investigation remains active.
