Two drivers and a passenger died after a head-on crash Thursday afternoon on Foresthill Road near the Auburn State Recreation Area, authorities said.
The collision was reported about 3:55 p.m. east of Lake Clementine Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A black SUV traveling eastbound and a white sedan traveling westbound collided head-on, Officer Mike Hamilton, a spokesperson for the CHP’s Auburn office, said. Both drivers died at the scene.
A female passenger in the SUV suffered major injuries and was flown by air ambulance to a hospital. Hamilton said Friday that the passenger died of her injuries.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation. CHP logs show one vehicle was requested to be preserved as evidence but DUI was not suspected as a factor in the crash, Hamilton said.
Authorities urged witnesses to contact the CHP Auburn office at 530-401-9910.
Foresthill Road reopened just after 6 p.m., the CHP said.
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 5:29 PM.
Related Stories from Sacramento Bee
The Sacramento Bee
Nicole Buss is The Sacramento Bee’s Roseville/Placer County watchdog reporter. She previously covered Placer County at Gold Country Media. Buss grew up in Lincoln and is a graduate of Sierra College and Arizona State University.