MENDOCINO Co., 9/18/19 — Carlos Lopez Cruz, 34 of Covelo, was killed yesterday evening, when his motorcycle crashed head-on into a Toyota 4Runner driving in the wrong lane into oncoming traffic, on Foothill Blvd. in Covelo.
According to the press release issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Steven N. Blake, 20 of Covelo, was driving west down Foothill Blvd. At Crawford Rd. a car was stopped in the right lane, making a right turn onto Crawford. Blake allegedly drove into the left lane, on this two way road, to pass the stopped car. Cruz was traveling east on his Harley Davidson Sportster and collided head-on with the 4Runner driven by Blake.
Cruz died at the scene. Blake sustained minor injuries, and his passenger was not injured. The investigation into the crash closed Foothill Blvd. for several hours, and the CHP determined alcohol or drugs were not a factor, but the crash remains under investigation and it is not clear if charges will be pressed against Blake.
Here is the statement from the CHP:
On September 17, 2019, at approximately 1937 hours, Steven Blake, with a passenger in the front passenger seat, was driving a 1998 Toyota 4Runner westbound on Foothill Boulevard, east of Crawford Road. Carlos Lopez Cruz was riding a 2000 Harley-Davidson Sportster eastbound on Foothill Boulevard, west of Crawford Road. As Blake was approaching the intersection with Crawford Road, he attempted to pass a stopped vehicle that was preparing to make a right turn. Blake drove the Toyota into the opposing lane directly in front of the Harley- Davidson causing a head-on collision. Cruz was pronounced dead on scene from injuries sustained in the collision. Blake sustained minor injuries and his passenger was uninjured. Foothill Blvd. was closed for several hours for the investigation and vehicle storage.
This collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in this collision.
The California Highway Patrol responded and assumed incident command. Personnel from Cal-Fire, Covelo Fire, and Round Valley Tribal Police assisted with the scene. Mendocino County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene.
CHP
Charge him he was on the wrong lane
That’s honestly a bad spot I have passed cars there multiple times it’s clear for passing just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time
I’ve lived on foothill Blvd since the 1960s
My dad called it the Indy 500
I called it the hudda 500 since most of um still had fenders
They drive by are house as fast as a hundred or more all day and nite
I’ve talked to are head sheriff captain of the hi way potoon and I think he was a tribal joke er cop it’s a 25 mph zone by Round Valley Elementary School ?
It’s a let it be blood valley