THIRD UPDATE: The Humboldt County Coroner's Office has identified the pedestrian killed May 5 on U.S. Highway 101 north of the airport as McKinleyville resident Ralph Pak Summers. He was 49.

CHP Officer Cy May said the case is active and the agency is "following up on some pretty good investigative leads."

He says investigators believe they have identified the driver and owner of a second vehicle suspected of being involved in the fatal collision and expects more information to become available in the coming days.


SECOND UPDATE: Humboldt CHP is still looking for a possible second vehicle related to this morning’s fatal traffic collision. Based on several vehicle parts/debris left at the scene it has been determined that we are looking for a 1997-2003 Ford F-150 dark in color. If anyone has any information please contact the Humboldt Area CHP Office at (707)822-5981 during business hours or the Humboldt Communications Center at (707)268-2000 for after business hours.


UPDATE: Humboldt CHP has recovered one of the vehicles involved, a 1995 Ford Escort, and has arrested David J. Lara of Trinidad on felony hit and run charges. Lara was taken into custody and was booked into the Humboldt County Jail early this morning. The CHP has "reason to believe a second vehicle was involved in this collision and is still outstanding." They are still looking for a dark blue full sized pickup with undercarriage damage.

Previously:

The California Highway Patrol responded to news of a dead body this morning on U.S. Highway 101 between McKinleyville Airport and Clam Beach. Little information is available at this time but it appears that a male pedestrian was struck by a vehicle traveling in the northbound lane. The CHP and Humboldt County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene, closing the highway at 1:19 a.m. and reopening it at 2:27 a.m. The CHP is currently looking for a "dark blue full sized pickup truck with damage to the undercarriage and wheel wells." According to the CHP, "there may have been multiple occupants in the suspect vehicle."

This is the 14th traffic fatality of 2017, and the fifth that involved a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.


From the California Highway Patrol:

On May 5, 2017, at approximately 12:40AM, CHP dispatch received calls of a possible deceased body in the roadway on northbound US-101 north of the McKinleyville Airport or south of Clam Beach. The Humboldt County Sheriff Department along with Fire and EMS personnel responded to assists and arrived on scene prior to CHP. The pedestrian was determined to be deceased. CHP closed the highway at 1:19 AM to facilitate the investigation. Evidence indicates that a male pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle traveling northbound. The involved vehicle then fled the scene. Evidence suggests the vehicle may have significant damage, particularly to the undercarriage and/or wheel wells. The highway was reopened at 2:27AM. The identity of the pedestrian will be released pending family notification by the Humboldt County Coroner’s office. Anyone with information regarding the incident, specifically information related to the involved vehicle is requested to call the Humboldt Area CHP office at 707-822-5981. This is an ongoing investigation and updates will be provided as more details are acquired.

UPDATE:

Through several investigative leads Humboldt CHP has discovered that the vehicle involved is possibly a Dark Blue full sized pickup truck with damage to the undercarriage and wheel wells. We have determined that there may have been multiple occupants in the suspect vehicle. If anyone has any information that may help identify the person or persons responsible for this collision please contact the Humboldt CHP Office at (707)822-5981 during business hours or the Humboldt Communications Center at (707)268-2000 after business hours.