[08-09-2024] Tehama County, CA – Five Teenagers Injured Following Single-Vehicle Crash Near Corning

Five teenagers were injured following a single-vehicle crash near Corning on Friday afternoon, August 9, 2024.

According to the Corning Police Department, the incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. on Gardiner Ferry Road at Squaw Hill Road.

Police said that a sedan, driven by a 16-year-old girl with four other teen passengers, was traveling at high speeds northbound toward Squaw Hill Road. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered into a ditch on the west side of the road. 

The car struck a culvert, went airborne, rolled over, and collided with a nearby telephone pole. Two of the teens occupying the sedan were ejected from the car during the rollover. 

Following the accident, the sedan caught fire, but all occupants were able to escape or were extricated before the flames completely engulfed it. CalFire, with assistance from Corning Volunteer Fire, managed to extinguish the fire before it spread to nearby vegetation.

Three of the teenagers, including the female driver, were airlifted from the scene for medical treatment. Four of the teens have since recovered from their injuries, while one boy remains in intensive care in a stable but serious condition. Authorities are still investigating whether the occupants were wearing seat belts during the accident.

It is currently unclear whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. The incident remains under investigation.