Ukiah man, woman killed in Highway 20 crash

Two Ukiah residents were killed in a three-vehicle crash Friday morning on Highway 20 in Redwood Valley, authorities reported.

About 8:50 a.m., a 70-year-old female driver and her 77-year-old male passenger, were in a ?2015 Nissan Altima attempting to turn east onto Highway 20 from Road 144, when they were struck by an oncoming westbound 2009 Nissan Titan truck, driven by Jaime Alberto Lopez, Jr., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The collision forced the Altima driver to lose ?control, careening into the eastbound lane of Highway 20, directly into the path of an oncoming semi-truck with multiple trailers attached.

The semi-truck, driven by Ward Mckee Jory, 52, of Lodi was unable to stop before colliding with the passenger side of the Altima, killing both people inside, the CHP said. Their names were not released.

Lopez, 25, of Lakeport was taken to Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital with moderate ?injuries.

Jory was uninjured.

Authorities do not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 707-521-5205 or christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @SeaWarren.