KING CITY — A farm labor vehicle collided with a SUV on Highway 101 north of King City early Wednesday morning, killing three people and injuring five others.
The farm vehicle, a 2003 Chevy Astro Van, was traveling northbound on Highway 101, south of Central Avenue, on Nov. 21 at about 6:10 a.m. when it attempted to cross the southbound lanes.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the van’s driver failed to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic as it proceeded westbound into the direct path of a 2016 Dodge Journey SUV that was headed south. The front of the Dodge Journey collided with the right passenger side of the van.
Three of the van’s seven passengers died, one female and two males from King City. CHP said they were not wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.
Three other passengers — a 25-year-old woman, a 30-year-old man and a 61-year-old man, all of King City — suffered moderate to major injuries. Another female passenger from King City was not injured in the crash.
The van’s driver, a 56-year-old man from King City, suffered moderate injuries to his head and back.
The driver of the Dodge Journey, a 60-year-old woman from Atascadero, suffered major injuries to her chest, ribs and leg. She was the only occupant of the SUV.
The names of the deceased were not released, pending next of kin notifications.
CHP officers, multiple AMR personnel and Cal Fire responded to the scene. The number two lane of southbound Highway 101 was closed for several hours for the investigation, which is ongoing.
CHP said it is not immediately known if alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in the collision.
