CHESTER, Calif. — A tragic rollover crash on Highway 36 near Chester claimed the lives of two young men early Friday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Authorities say the crash occurred between late Thursday night and early Friday, when a 2001 Lexus SUV carrying two male occupants was traveling eastbound on Highway 36, just west of the North Shore Campground near Lake Almanor. For reasons still under investigation, the SUV veered off the roadway at an unknown speed, rolling several times before coming to rest down a steep embankment surrounded by heavy brush and trees.
The victims have been identified as a 26-year-old man from Oroville and 23-year-old Jace Turner from Magalia. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials noted that neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Investigators believe that alcohol may have been a factor in the deadly collision, though the exact cause remains under review. The CHP continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, and next-of-kin have been notified.
This heartbreaking loss serves as a somber reminder of the dangers of impaired and unrestrained driving.