Two killed in separate Sutter traffic accidents

It was a day of death on the streets of Sutter County as two people died in separate accidents Sunday.

Myrtle Harmon, 68, of Gridley, was killed Sunday afternoon in Live Oak along Highway 99 when a car driven by a Biggs resident swerved for unknown reasons into oncoming traffic, the California Highway Patrol said.

Harmon was driving a silver 2005 Ford Focus southbound near the northern city limit of Live Oak at about 1:20 p.m. when Juanita Maldonado, 63, of Biggs, drifted to the right, then swerved back to the left and crossed the centerline into Harmon's path, the CHP said.

Harmon was unable to avoid Maldonado's 2004 Honda Civic and struck it broadside, causing the Honda to flip and land on its side, according to the CHP.

Harmon's vehicle spun off the shoulder. She was pronounced dead at the scene near Nevada Street.

Maldonado and her granddaughter Erica Aguirre, 15, sustained major injuries. Maldonado's grandson Miguel Aguirre, 11, sustained only minor scratches.

Erica Aguirre was transported by air ambulance to Enloe Hospital in Chico. She was listed in critical condition on Sunday night.

Alcohol was not a factor in the collision, and the injuries to those in the Maldonado vehicle were reduced by the use of proper restraint systems, the CHP said.

Maldonado was driving at the speed limit when the accident occurred, said CHP Sgt. Mark Taylor.

Orland resident Ceclia Siva, 31, was not involved in the accident but saw the collision as she was returning from church in Live Oak.

Siva said the car driven by Maldonado "flew up in the air and flipped" after the impact of the collision.

Scores of onlookers lined the roadway and law enforcement and firefighting vehicles and ambulances responded to the accident.

Two members of the Church of Glad Tidings in Live Oak who learned of the accident stopped to pray with a woman who came from work after being told family members had been injured.

Siva said the fatal collision showed how quickly a life can end.

"You can be here one minute," she said, and the next "you're not."

In an accident that happened at about 4:20 p.m. Sunday, a male on a bicycle was killed in Yuba City when he turned in front of a sports utility vehicle, the Yuba City Police Department said.

The cyclist was traveling southbound on Walton Avenue near Lassen Avenue, across from the Sunsweet plant, when he turned to cross the road and was struck by a southbound Toyota Highlander, said Sgt. Jeff Webster.

The name of the cyclist was not released Sunday.

Contact Appeal reporter Ryan McCarthy at 749-4707 or rmc carthy@appealdemocrat.com