On January 24, 2019 at approximately 0715 hours, a 17-year-old Beckwourth, Ca resident was driving a 2012 Chevrolet pickup while pulling a 1994 Feather Lite Horse trailer with three horses. The driver's mother, Kim Grashuis, was seated in the right front passenger seat. They were driving southbound on SR-89, just south of Westside Road. Ruben Villa-Arroyo was driving a 2019 Freightliner 3 axle box truck on SR-89 northbound approaching the Chevrolet. The road surface was icy and a dense layer of fog had limited visibility to approximately 75'. As the Chevrolet's driver entered a right hand curve the horse trailer tires lost traction, swung to the left and into the northbound lane, directly into the path of Mr. Villa-Arroyos' Freightliner. The Chevrolet sayed in the southbound lane. Mr. Villa-Arroyo observed the out of control trailer and attempted to steer to the right, but a collision could not be avoided as the nearly sideways horse trailer collided directly in the Freightliner's front grill, hood and windshield. The horse trailer was completely separated from the Chevrolet. Mr. Villa-Arroyo sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency personnel. All three horses inside the trailer sustained fatal injuries. The driver and passenger in the Chevrolet were not injured an remained at the scene.
The collision is still under investigation by the Quincy Office of the California Highway Patrol. Alcohol or drugs are not believed to be a factor in the cause of this collision. For any inquires about this collision please contact the Quincy Office of the California Highway Patrol at 530-283-1100.
The collision is still under investigation by the Quincy Office of the California Highway Patrol. Alcohol or drugs are not believed to be a factor in the cause of this collision. For any inquires about this collision please contact the Quincy Office of the California Highway Patrol at 530-283-1100.
