CASTELLA, Calif. — A good Samaritan is hospitalized with major injuries after being struck by a hit-and-run driver while rendering aid to others involved in a rollover crash on Interstate 5, near Castella, on Friday morning.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) office in Mount Shasta says the crash occurred just after 5:30 a.m. on Friday morning on southbound I-5, south of Sweetbrier Avenue, in Shasta County. They say the driver of a 2019 Toyota Highlander, who the CHP has identified as “Mr. John,” drifted off of the roadway, crashed into a tree and overturned before coming to a rest in the southbound lanes of I-5 south. Additionally, the tree they crashed into had now fallen onto the southbound lanes.
Shortly after, the CHP says another driver, who they’ve identified as “Mr. Peterson,” saw the crash and pulled over to render aid to those inside the Highlander. However, while helping the crash victims, the CHP says Mr. Peterson was suddenly struck by an unknown vehicle who then fled the area.
CHP says a driver in a 2002 Ford Ranger, identified as “Mr. McClure,” was traveling southbound on I-5 south and approaching the crash area. The CHP says Mr. McClure was unable to avoid crashing into the tree located in the southbound lanes.
Ultimately, Mr. John, the driver of the Highlander, and his passengers, identified as “E. John, Priscilua, and Williams,” were transported to Mercy Medical in Mount Shasta minor injuries. Mr. Peterson, however, was transported to the Mercy Medical Center in Redding with major injuries.
The CHP says they are still investigating this incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact CHP Officer E. Padilla at the CHP Mount Shasta Office at (530) 926-2627.