Plumas Lake boy dies after Yuba County crash

A 4-year-old boy from Plumas Lake was killed Wednesday afternoon when a car he was in was hit by another car at Rancho and Ostrom roads in Yuba County.

According to the Yuba-Sutter California Highway Patrol office, Jessie Campos, 19, of Plumas Lake was driving a 2003 Nissan Sentra east on Ostrom Road at about 4:30 p.m., approaching the Rancho Road intersection at about 45 mph.

At the same time, Ronald Berry, 47, of Olivehurst was headed south on Rancho in a 1988 Honda Civic at 45 mph, with an unidentified 4-year-old as a passenger. According to the CHP, Campos failed to stop at a stop sign and broadsided the Civic on its right side.

The 4-year-old was taken by ambulance to Rideout Regional Medical Center in Marysville, where he died of blunt force trauma injuries. Berry had moderate cuts on his head, while both Campos and his passenger, Vanessa Franken, 18, of Plumas Lake, were unharmed.

All the people involved in the accident were using safety equipment, according to the CHP.

A CHP investigation determined drugs and alcohol did not appear to play a role in the accident, but the incident is still being investigated. No one was arrested.

Any witnesses are encouraged to call the Yuba-Sutter CHP at 674-5141.

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4786. Find him on Facebook at /ADbvandermeer or on Twitter at @ADbvandermeer.