The California Highway Patrol has released details of the horrific Saturday morning accident which claimed the life of a 3 year-old Stockton girl and injured four other passengers near the Secret Valley rest area on Highway 395.
According to the CHP, 32 year-old Stockton resident Jamie Sauce was driving a 1996 Chevrolet Astro Van southbound on the highway, south of the rest area, when the tread separated from the right rear tire of the vehicle.
In reaction to this, Sauce applied the brakes causing her to lose control of the vehicle. The Astro Van traveled off of the west roadway edge and descended a steep embankment where it overturned, ejecting several of the unrestrained juvenile occupants.
A three year old passenger was pinned under the vehicle and, despite life saving efforts on the part of CHP personnel, succumbed to her injuries.
The remainder of the occupants were transported to Renown Medical Center in Reno for treatment of minor injuries.
The California Highway Patrol is taking this opportunity to reinforce the importance of wearing your seatbelt and making sure that your child passengers are properly restrained in a child safety seat. For more information, or for assistance with your child safety seat, contact your local CHP office.
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