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NORTH COAST, Calif. — A head-on crash on Tuesday evening killed one man and injured three others, and resulted in one arrest after authorities said they believed it involved driving under the influence.

The California Highway Patrol’s Ukiah Area office said the wreck occurred on Talmage Road just east of Hastings Road in rainy conditions.

The man who died in the wreck was not identified in the CHP’s initial Tuesday night report, pending notification of next of kin.

The CHP said it received a call for service regarding the head-on collision at 6:43 p.m. Tuesday.

The responding officers found two vehicles with major damage, with one of them having unresponsive occupants inside, the CHP said.

Based on witness reports and the initial investigation, the CHP said Phillip Harrison, 38, of Potter Valley was driving his 2019 Ford Fusion westbound on Talmage Road.

Heading eastbound at the same time was Ezequiel C. Guzman, 35, of Ukiah, who was driving his 2001 Chevy Malibu with two passengers, the CHP said.

For reasons the CHP said are so far unknown, Guzman allowed the Chevy to travel across the opposite lane and directly into the path of Harrison’s Ford.

The CHP said the Chevy’s right front impacted the right front of the Ford, causing major intrusion into the Chevy’s right side passenger compartment.

Medical personnel responded to the scene, extricating Guzman and one of his passengers, Jesus Nava-Sandoval, 32, of Ukiah. The two men were transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital via Adventist Health Ukiah Valley with moderate injuries, the CHP said.

Medics transported Harrison to Adventist Health Ukiah Valley with moderate injuries, according to the CHP report.

Despite efforts by medical personnel, Guzman’s right front passenger died of his injuries at the scene. The CHP said he was later extricated from the vehicle and transported to Eversole Mortuary.

The CHP said Guzman was arrested following the crash. Investigators believe that alcohol and/or drugs contributed to the wreck.

Neither Guzman nor his passengers were wearing their seat belts, while Harrison was wearing his seat belt, the report noted.

The crash remains an active investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to it is asked to contact the Ukiah CHP office at 707-467-4420.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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Royce Hiner, Medal of Valor awardee and highway maintenance leadworker for Caltrans District 2. Courtesy photo.

The state of California has awarded Caltrans Highway Maintenance Leadworker Royce Hiner with a Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor for courage in the face of danger. Hiner received the Silver Medal of Valor for risking his life to save another.

“Many honorable servants to the state of California risk danger as part of their everyday duties. But occasionally someone goes beyond the line of duty to display extraordinary courage in the face of danger,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “Royce Hiner is one such public servant. We honor and thank him for his bravery and are proud to have him in our Caltrans family.”

Hiner was traveling to a routine maintenance call on July 25, 2018, on Interstate 5 near Corning, when he encountered a van that was on fire.

He stopped to help the driver, who was frantically trying to put the fire out. Hiner advised the driver to stay clear from the van as he worked to free a dog that was still in the vehicle.

Hincer was pulling the man away from the vehicle when it suddenly burst into flames. Hiner ensured the man remained safe until first responders arrived at the scene.

The State Employee Medal of Valor Award is the highest honor California bestows on its public servants. Governor Edmund G. Brown Sr. presented the first awards in 1959.

Today nearly 700 state employees have earned that honor for displaying bravery, courage, and selflessness in the face of danger.
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Kaden Pearce of Red Bluff, California, has pleaded guilty to poaching a buck deer in August 2020. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — A Tehama County man has pleaded guilty to deer poaching charges stemming from an August 2020 poaching investigation.

Kaden Pearce, 23, of Red Bluff, killed a large buck in a local walnut orchard where he did not have legal permission to hunt. He then falsified the location information when he reported the deer harvest on his deer tag as required by hunting regulations.

A local wildlife officer received a tip from an anonymous source about a possible deer poaching incident involving Pearce.

The investigation revealed Pearce had illegally trespassed onto the private property to take the buck on Aug. 16, 2020, and an interview with the manager of that property revealed he had previously warned Pearce not to hunt there.

Upon further investigation, wildlife officers concluded Pearce had falsely reported the harvest location.

On Oct. 27, 2021, Pearce pleaded guilty in Tehama County Superior Court to hunter trespass and falsifying a state document.

As a result of his guilty plea, he was ordered to pay $1,580 in fines and penalties, forfeit the antlers from the buck and complete 40 hours of community service. He was also placed on 12 months’ probation with his hunting privileges suspended for the duration of his probation.

The vast majority of California’s hunters are law abiding citizens who adhere to ethical hunting practices.

If you witness a poaching or polluting incident or any fish and wildlife violation, or have information about such a violation, immediately dial the toll free CalTIP number 1 888 334-CALTIP (888 334-2258), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Or you may submit anonymous tips to CDFW using tip411, an internet based tool from www.CitizenObserver.com that enables the public to text message an anonymous tip to wildlife officers and lets the officers respond back creating an anonymous two-way conversation. Anyone with a cell phone may send an anonymous tip to CDFW by texting “CALTIP,” followed by a space and the message, to 847411 (tip411).
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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced four $50,000 rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of unsolved murders in Fresno, San Pablo, Visalia and unincorporated Butte County.

California law authorizes the governor to offer rewards in certain unsolved cases for information leading to apprehension of the perpetrators.

Law enforcement agencies may ask the governor to issue rewards in certain unsolved cases where they have exhausted all investigative leads to encourage individuals with information about the crimes to come forward.

Public assistance is vital to law enforcement, and rewards may encourage public cooperation essential to apprehend those who have committed serious offenses.

Monday’s rewards issued by the governor involve the following cases:

Butte County: A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murder of Marc Thompson. On Sept. 3, 2014, the 25-year-old was fatally shot while parked in a remote and wooded location. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office has exhausted numerous investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage any individuals with information about this murder to contact Butte County Sheriff’s Sgt. Patrick McNelis or Det. Tristian Harper at 530-538-7671.

Fresno: A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murder of Jacqueline Flores. On July 27, 2021, the 25-year-old mother was in her vehicle with her six-year-old daughter when she was fatally shot. The Fresno Police Department has exhausted all investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage any individuals with information about this murder to contact Fresno Police Department Detective Miguel Alvarez at 559-621-2441, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Det. Ben Barnes at 559-621-2421, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

San Pablo: A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murder of Shawn Tillis. On June 12, 2020, the 27-year-old father was fatally shot in his vehicle outside of an apartment complex. The San Pablo Police Department has exhausted all investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage any individuals with information about this murder to contact San Pablo Police Department Sergeant Robert Brady at 510-215-3295, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Det. Anthony Biama at 510-215-3133, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Visalia: A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murders of Jose Hernandez, Blake Medeiros and Isaiah Rule. On May 5, 2020, 19-year-old Hernandez, 19-year-old Medeiros and 18-year-old Rule were fatally shot in their vehicle outside of a high school. The Visalia Police Department has exhausted all investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage any individuals with information about these murders to contact Visalia Police Department Det. Robert Meier at 559-713-4211.

More information on the Governor’s Reward Program can be found here.
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The California Transportation Commission this week allocated more than $495 million for projects to fix and improve transportation infrastructure throughout California.

Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, accounts for more than two-thirds of this critical investment — $328 million.

“This substantial investment will help improve transportation for all Californians now and in the future,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “This includes moving toward a more climate-friendly, safe, and equitable state transportation system.”

Projects approved include:

Approximately $796,000 toward pavement, guardrail, lighting, and other upgrades on Route 299 from the 101 junction to east of Blue Lake Boulevard in Humboldt County.

Approximately $853,000 toward pavement, guardrail, and other upgrades on Route 299 from Blue Lake to east of the Burney Vista Point in Humboldt County.

Approximately $841,000 toward pavement, guardrail, and signage upgrades on U.S. 101 near Willits in Mendocino County.

Approximately $776,000 toward culvert upgrades on U.S. 101 near Laytonville, Leggett, and Piercy in Mendocino County.

SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually split between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.

For more information about other transportation projects funded by SB 1, visit www.RebuildingCA.ca.gov.

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GLENN COUNTY, Calif. — Caltrans is alerting motorists that the long-term closures of the north- and southbound Interstate 5 Willows safety roadside rest areas, or SRRA, in Glenn County have been extended to March 31, 2022.

The Willows rest areas have been closed since January for construction and were originally expected to reopen by Dec. 31. However, a time extension is required because of supply chain delays for materials needed to complete improvements to the facilities.

During the closure, northbound I-5 motorists will be directed to use the Red Bluff SRRA in Tehama County, about 42 miles north of Willows; please note the northbound Corning rest area is closed for maintenance work.

Southbound motorists will be directed to the Maxwell SRRA in Colusa County, about 34 miles south of the Willows SRRA.

Caltrans is investing more than $6.9 million to update the wastewater, water, and lighting systems at the Willows rest areas. TSI Engineering Inc. of North Highlands, Sacramento County, is the contractor for the project.

Weather or unexpected events may delay or prolong the work. Caltrans advises motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert.”

The department will issue construction updates on Twitter @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3.

For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.


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