3-car crash at Highway 99, Oswald hospitalizes 2

Two people were hospitalized Friday following a three-car collision on Highway 99 near Oswald Road, south of Yuba City.

Roland McCullough, 65, of Yuba City, was headed north on the highway about 4 p.m. when his white Chevrolet pickup crossed into the southbound lane, the California Highway Patrol said.

"It's not yet known why the vehicle crossed over," CHP Officer Craig Howard said. "It's a real mess still."

At the same time, the CHP said, Joshua Garcia, 23, of Chino was driving south on the highway and veered to miss McCullough's truck, Howard said.

Garcia swerved to avoid a collision, but was struck, and the crash forced the vehicles into a third truck driven by David Auman of El Dorado Hills, who was traveling behind Garcia, the CHP said.

Witnesses described hearing a loud "explosion" that scattered debris in every direction. All three vehicles came to a rest on the eastern shoulder of the southbound lane.

CHP said drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash.

McCullough was taken to Rideout Memorial Hospital with a fractured leg and complained of right arm pain, CHP said.

He was trapped in his vehicle for nearly 20 minutes until rescue workers freed him using a "jaws of life" device.

Auman was also taken to the hospital with chest pains where he was treated and released.

Friday's crash occurred one week after a wreck in the same area killed Vandy Jean Foutz, a Yuba City resident and employee of the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.