Update: Maxwell crash victims named

Authorities this morning released the names of three people who died in a vehicle wreck in northwest Colusa County.

The California Highway Patrol said Rachelle L. Tank, a 24-year-old woman from Thousand Palms near Palm Springs, was killed Tuesday when her 2003 Nissan Sentra sedan was struck by a minivan at an Interstate 5 exit ramp to old Highway 99W.

Two Yuba City residents riding in the van, a 1989 Ford Aerostar, also died in the crash. CHP identified them as 27-year-old Martina P. Soto and 25-year-old Juan A. Martinez. Neither victim was wearing a seat belt, the agency said.

Seven people, including six Yuba City residents, were injured in the accident, which occurred at 1:40 p.m.

According to the CHP, Tank’s car exited southbound I-5 and "pulled out onto (99W) directly into the path of" the Ford. The van’s driver, Edwin Rodriguez of Yuba City, tried to avoid the collision by veering left and braking.

The Aerostar broadsided the sedan on its driver side, instantly killing Tank, the CHP reported. A passenger in the Nissan, Chris Alalinas, 22, of Sky Valley, sustained "moderate injuries" and was taken to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, according to the CHP. Enloe reported not having a patient by that name Tuesday night.

The van overturned and came to rest in the northbound lane. Martinez and Soto, who were among the van’s eight occupants, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Rodriguez was airlifted to Enloe along with a Yuba City woman, Ermilla Real, the CHP reported. Both remained in Enloe's trauma unity overnight Tuesday.

Norma Perez, 38, of Yuba City, was flown to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento with a life-threatening head injury She was listed in fair condition.

Other passengers in the van were Marcelo C. Garcia, 29, Alejandro C. Garcia, 33, and Sandra Cazarez, 18, all of Yuba City.

The three were transported to Colusa Regional Medical Center. From there, Alejandro Garcia was transferred to Enloe and remained in the emergency room while Marcelo Garcia remained at Colusa. Cazarez was treated and released.

Those in the minivan are believed to be field laborers at melon farms north of Maxwell, according to CHP Officer Bob Kays.

Old Highway 99W, which was closed in both directions for four hours, is a flat and mostly straight two-lane route that parallels I-5 through the Sacramento Valley.

Tuesday's accident was Colusa County's second fatal wreck on 99W in as many years.

On Jan. 22, 2007, an Arbuckle mother and daughter, Julie and Holly Smith, died at the Hahn Road crossing north of Arbuckle when their car struck a tractor-trailer head-on.

Contact Colusa Sun-Herald reporter Howard Yune at 458-2121 or hyune@tcnpress.com. Contact Colusa County Sun-Herald reporter Susan Meeker at 458-2121, 934-6800 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.