By Cathy Locke and Bill Lindelof
clocke@sacbee.com
A 20-year-old Sacramento man died this morning when his vehicle fell several feet from a transition road onto southbound I-5 following a collision, according to the California Highway Patrol said.
The collision occurred about 5:45 a.m. as a 20-year-old Sacramento woman was driving 2004 Mitsubishi from southbound I-5 onto the eastbound Highway 50 transition road.
A CHP news release gave this account of events:
She was about 15 feet behind 2003 Chevrolet in the far left lane when the Chevrolet began to slow due to congestion ahead.
The driver of the Mitsubishi failed to notice that the driver in front of her was slowing down. In an attempt to avoid a collision, she quickly turned her vehicle's wheel to the right, entering the adjoining lane, directly in the path of a 2000 Toyota.
The left front of the Toyota struck the right rear side of the Mitsubishi, which spun out of control.
The Toyota lost its left front tire, causing the driver to lose control. The Toyota struck the guardrail on the left side of the roadway, rolled over the railing and fell several feet into the southbound lanes of I-5.
The Toyota landed on its left side and immediately caught fire. The driver was unable to escape and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver's name has not been released pending notification of family.
The driver of the Mitsubishi and her passenger, a 6-month-old boy, were taken to U.C. Davis Medical Center with minor injuries.
The driver of the Chevrolet, 22-year-old Sacramento man, was not injured.
Traffic was backed up on southbound Interstate 5 into Natomas.
The accident investigation is continuing.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
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