An unidentified man and his passenger died in a fiery crash that closed Highway 20 in east Lake County for three hours Wednesday, the CHP said.
A box truck driver, Kenneth Erickson, 29 of Sacramento, also was seriously injured in the crash, authorities said.
The CHP said the 1:49 p.m. crash occurred when the driver of a westbound Jeep Wagoneer attempted a sharp curve at a high speed and lost control of the vehicle east of Old Long Valley Road and the Highway 53 junction.
The Jeep crossed over the double yellow line and collided head-on with Erickson?s eastbound box truck, the CHP said.
Both the Jeep driver and his passenger were trapped in the vehicle when it burst into flames, the CHP said.
Passers-by managed to get the burning passenger from the Jeep, but he died at the edge of the road. The driver died inside the car, authorities said.
Their names will not be released until the Lake County Sheriff?s coroner is able to identify them, the CHP said.
Erickson also had to be cut from the wreckage and was taken by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa.
He was in serious but stable condition in the hospital?s critical care unit this morning, a hospital spokesman said.
The incident and cleanup closed Highway 20, a major route in and out of Lake County, for three hours, the CHP said.
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