CHP: Speeding driver hits tree in Napa County crash, dies

A Sacramento man died after his car hit a tree Tuesday in Napa County, the second fatal crash in the county in four days, the CHP said.

Patrick Joseph Malley II, 48, died in the impact from the 5:45 p.m. crash on Highway 128. The crash caused major injuries to passenger Mary Merlino, 45, of Sacramento, CHP said.

The two were headed east on the rural highway and were just south of Lake Berryessa when Malley lost control of his 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, CHP said. The Camaro, going at a “high rate of speed,” left the highway and hit a tree, CHP said.

Merlino was flown by CHP helicopter to the trauma center at Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center.

The crash and cause of death remained under investigation. The CHP initially said the fatal victim was a Carlsbad man, but an investigation showed he recently had moved to Sacramento.

On Saturday night a San Francisco man, 28, died when his Uber ride was hit by a another car on Highway 29 in Yountville. The man and his wife had hired the driver to take them to dinner for their one-year anniversary. CHP officers are investigating what led to the head-on collision.

Also on Saturday a Sonoma man in a go-kart crash died in Schellville.

- Randi Rossmann