Woman dies in collision

A 57-year-old Olivehurst woman died Saturday night in a head-on collision on Highway 99 between Yuba City and Live Oak, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash happened at 11:15 p.m. on Highway 99 north of Kent Avenue. The victim, whose name was unavailable Sunday, died at the scene after her 1991 Mazda 626 struck an oncoming 2002 Kia Sedona minivan.

The Kia's driver, a 48-year-old Yuba City man, suffered a broken left leg in the wreck and was taken to Rideout Memorial Hospital, the CHP said.

According to the CHP, the Kia was heading south on the highway, two or three vehicles behind a 2000 Peterbilt tractor-trailer. After passing the other vehicles, the minivan's driver crossed the center line and began to overtake the big rig, only to encounter the oncoming Mazda. Each of the two cars struck the other's left front fender.

Officers diverted traffic around the accident scene before reopening 99 at 1 a.m. Sunday.

The CHP said it may pursue a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter against the Kia's driver.

Saturday's crash was at least the fifth fatality on Highway 99 in Sutter County in the last 12 months. Three motorists lost their lives on the road in 2007, and a two-car wreck Jan. 13 at the Barry Road crossing south of Yuba City killed an 81-year-old woman. The other driver in that crash, Baldemar Lopez of Antioch, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

Contact Appeal reporter Howard Yune at 749-4708, 458-2121 or hyune@appealdemocrat.com