Four Fatalities Since Christmas in Humboldt County, CHP Provides Information on What Occurred
Smoke rises from the two vehicles involved in a fatal crash December 31. [Photo by Cynthia Nabayan]
On December 31, the first fatal crash in the last month occurred on Hwy 101 by Fortuna’s Kenmar exit about 10 a.m.
According to Officer Craft, “In this crash, 38 year old Anthony Grayson of Crescent City was driving southbound in the northbound lanes when he collided head-on with a vehicle driven by 67 year old Harry Braswell of Hydesville. Mr. Braswell died as a result of his injuries from the crash. Mr. Grayson has since been transported out of the area for treatment of his injuries. Impairment is being investigated as a cause of the crash. The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed at this point, although they may be considered at the conclusion of the investigation.”
The second fatal crash of the last month occurred on January 4. According to Craft, an officer on patrol discovered a 1996 Dodge Dakota off the roadway of Hwy 299 near mile marker 30. Craft explained, “55 year old Michael Arons of Salyer was located deceased, in close proximity to the vehicle. At this time it is unknown if he was ejected from the vehicle or if he was able to climb out of the vehicle after the crash. This crash investigation is ongoing.”
On January 14, a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash occurred on northbound US-101 just south of the Fortuna Main St. undercrossing, according to Officer Craft. A pedestrian, 26-year-old Gerardo Martinez of Eureka, was struck by a 2008 Dodge Durango driven by 38-year-old Christopher Belcher of Loleta. Craft said, “Mr. Martinez died as a result of the injuries suffered in the crash. The cause of this crash is under investigation.”
The last fatal crash of this month was discovered about 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday, January 17. Craft explained, “In this crash, an officer on patrol located a 2022 Nissan Sentra off the road on northbound US-101 north of Cranell Rd. The driver, and solo occupant of the vehicle, 59 year old Colin Stevens of Trinidad, died as a result of the injuries suffered in the crash. It is unknown what caused the vehicle to travel off the road and the investigation is ongoing.”
Please note these are not all the traffic fatalities that occurred in Humboldt County since Christmas. We believe at least one pedestrian was killed in the Eureka Police jurisdiction. We have requested more information.
Update: Two Additional Fatal Accidents Reported During the Month After Christmas
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I would like yo know why not one word has been mentioned about the hit & run accident of Lynn Bagley in December? He was never publicly identified as the victim in this hit & run and obviously there is absolutely no investigation into who killed this very large nan and did not stop or xall in help for him. Many,many people wer sad to hear there was even services that none of the people that truly loved this gentle man had heard of until next day.
Another death that could have been avoided that NOBODY will have to answer or account for! Lynn was a VERY big guy! There us without a doubt plenty of damage done to this vehicle that murdered him. Altho I’m sure by now its been fixed or gone.
Im absolutely ashamed of how the people in humboldt (in MY community)that are responsible for investigating or at least TRYING to do any justice for the missing & murdered people that sadly died in the wrong county to have anyone fight for them have done nothing. So sorry to all the victims and to all their families and loved ones!
Do you have a link to the accident article on this or other site?
https://kymkemp.com/2022/12/22/fatal-hit-and-run-on-hwy-299/#:~:text=On%20December%2021%2C%202022%2C%20at,adult%20male%20with%20fatal%20injuries.
Thank you,sorry I hadn’t seen all these questions till just now
https://m.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flostcoastoutpost.com%2F2022%2Fdec%2F22%2Fman-found-dead-along-highway-299-yesterday-believe%2F#
Where did this accident happen?
https://m.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flostcoastoutpost.com%2F2022%2Fdec%2F22%2Fman-found-dead-along-highway-299-yesterday-believe%2F#
Camile January 17 2023 vehicle vs pedistrain. Humboldt student heart of gold no words could justify the kind and compasinate soul I will miss them forever.
Are you saying that the accident is not being investigated by law enforcement, or you are fustrated that the responsible driver has not been found? Community members need to get involved in helping to hold the responsible(s) people accountable also. Law enforcement is a reflection of the community involvement rather if we like it or not.
If there is an investigation nothing has ever been reported on it besides the very first original stories.
I wud think this day and age with how far technology & DNA has come something could be looked into further.
Maybe there is and they are just not releasing any info but somehow I don’t think that’s the case. Iv lived here all my life and in my opinion sadly to many missing,murdered and hit & runs stay unresolved.
They provided information, but not very much of it.
The Hit and Run on 299 I’m guessing? CHP was saying they found debris that had them suspect a commercial truck.
Yes, that would be the one…
But, did that happen before Christmas?
I think it may have…
May he rest in peace…
Yes,it was Dec 20. Someone called it in on the 21st.
https://m.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flostcoastoutpost.com%2F2022%2Fdec%2F22%2Fman-found-dead-along-highway-299-yesterday-believe%2F#
Yes,it happened Dec 20. It was called in when someone found his body on the 21st.
That is literally all iv ever heard or read about it! No follow-ups or more information. NOT even a confirmation that it was Lynn Bagley who was hit!! Nothing!
is the death while driving the Polairis on AP Road not considered of the same caliber of the listed deaths? Was it not listed because it was not a on a state highway?
I thought about that one, also…
There is also a man missing from Salyer…
But I guess that’s Trinity…
Unless he headed West, first…
He was believe to have headed East, but maybe he went to willow Creek to get gas first…???
Hopefully they checked that stretch of 299 between Salyer and Willow Creek, for him, as well…
https://kymkemp.com/2023/01/21/missing-man-may-have-left-salyer-on-january-14/#:~:text=Press%20release%20from%20the%20Trinity,%2C%20CA%20License%20Plate%3A%205NMH775.
It seems like it is not uncommon for missing folks to be found in the opposite direction that they were thought to have traveled…
The accident did not occur on AP road, it was on private property.
Not sure where those types of fatalities fit into the stats.
Too many regardless.
That’s what I’d like to know!
Except 299 is a state highway!
Sorry,I misunderstood the question at first when I answered that’s what I’d like to know
299 is a state highway! To be fair it was before Christmas by a cpl of days. Still does not explain why so many ppl are completely shocked to know this even has happened especially the victim that is so dearly loved by most anyone who ever knew him. Lynn Bagley was an absolute gentle giant & wud have stopped if he thought he’d hit a bird on side of road! Absolutely heartbreaking and someone needs to be held accountable for murdering this man!
I’m getting the feeling that investigating fatal auto accidents is a low priority in California.
Not just fatal auto accidents! Any type of missing,murdered and hit and runs if it’s not a case that is basically a open n shut case it seems that not much effort if any is put into solving these cases. There is the 2 girls that went missing 9yrs ago in Feb that literally has never had any follow up reports or pretty much zilch following up on any leads. Sheila Franks & Danielle Bertolini. Both went missing about a week apart and are connected by the same man. They found Danielle’s skull few yrs later & it had washed up on the eel river and then Sheila’s femur (i believe it was) was found after that. So both wer obviously murdered. Sheila was local and Danielle’s family is from Maine. The families,NOT anyone from our local authorities have been the ones doing all searches since the beginning basically. Our authorities do not keep in contact with these families with any updates or any news at all other than to notify them when they found their body parts. More than likely because they hvnt followed up on anything. There has never been a word,write up,press conference,etc by our LOCAL authorities on the case since it first occurred. There has been some media attn by other people covering this story and so many others that have disappeared from right here in OUR own community.
Iv known of Sheila’s family many yrs as she’s a local and iv come to know Danielle’s family very well sadly since the beginning of this whole ordeal started There is a story on you tube by TRUE CRIME DAILY called “THE HUMBOLDT MISSING FIVE”.
There is more situations just like these that I think many ppl would be shocked to realize just how many!
This is our community and I am honestly ashamed of how our authorities or whoever is responsible for bringing justice to ALL who have died by someone else’s actions right here in our own back yards.
Vax deaths people!!!!
it’s totally obvious!
A 2022 car should have entirely enough safety air bags to survive driving off the road . These deaths are not being researched at all . Sudden deaths are a thing now and the highway patrol can’t explain it.
Huh .. I am baffled!
It’s too obvious I shouldn’t even have to remind people…
Read the obits ! This is not normal folks.
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So sad for the families of those who have lost their lives.
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