A head-on crash on Highway 395 near Susanville killed both drivers, and a man who stopped to help was also fatally struck, the California Highway Patrol said.
An emergency call at 5:41 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, reported the crash, with the caller saying her boyfriend had been hit by a car, the CHP log said.
Emergency responders found three people dead at the scene and one of the vehicles on fire.
The CHP said the two vehicles — and SUV and a pickup track — crashed after a southbound driver, attempting to pass, pulled into the path of a northbound vehicle. Trying to avoid a collision, both drivers veered toward the highway’s east shoulder, where the vehicles collided.
Another driver stopped on the west shoulder and crossed toward the wreckage; he was struck by a northbound car.
Those killed were a 46-year-old woman from Susanville (in the southbound vehicle), a 67-year-old man from Janesville (in the northbound vehicle) and a 52-year-old man from Susanville (standing on the shoulder).
The 60-year-old Janesville woman whose car struck the pedestrian remained on the scene.
The crash occurred on a two-lane stretch of Highway 395 about a mile south of the Susanville airport. The road was closed until 12:30 p.m. Thursday.