On August 15, 2024, at approximately 4:24 P.M., a serious collision occurred on State Route 70 west of Camp Layman Road involving a 2020 Volvo truck and a 2021 GMC Yukon. The incident serves as a powerful reminder of the life-saving importance of properly securing children in child safety seats.
Edwin Reyes, a resident of Mendota, CA, was driving eastbound in a 2020 Volvo truck pulling a trailer at a speed of approximately 55 MPH. At the same time, Jamie Anderson, a resident of Portola, CA, was traveling westbound in her 2021 GMC Yukon with her three juvenile children, also at a speed of 55 MPH.
As the vehicles navigated a curve in the roadway, Mr. Reyes’s vehicle crossed into the westbound lane, directly into the path of Ms. Anderson’s vehicle. The resulting head-on collision caused major damage to both vehicles.
Emergency services responded quickly to the scene, and all occupants of the Yukon were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Due to the severity of the impact, this could have been a far more tragic outcome.
However, upon inspection by officers on the scene, it was noted that Ms. Anderson had properly secured her children in child safety seats. This critical action protected her children from suffering possibly fatal injuries in the collision.
“This incident underscores the vital importance of using child safety seats correctly,” said Officer Preston. “In situations like this, the proper use of child restraints can literally be a matter of life and death.”
The California Highway Patrol encourages all drivers to ensure that child safety seats are used and installed correctly every time a child is in a vehicle.
Submitted by Quincy CHP
