Highway 36 crash kills Susanville woman; allegedly intoxicated driver faces DUI murder charge

A five-vehicle crash near the intersection of Highway 36 and Highway 395 claimed the life of an unidentified 47-year-old Susanville woman and injured four others about 7:47 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. The woman’s passenger, an unidentified 10-year-old girl, was life-flighted to Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nevada, with major injuries.

The driver who allegedly caused the accident, William R. Dougherty, 49, of Sacramento, California, was arrested for driving under the influence (as drug influence was suspected) and booked into the Lassen County Jail on charges of Watson DUI murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of drugs, DUI (drugs) causing death and driving while addicted to a drug. He suffered minor injuries and was transported to Lassen Medical Center for treatment.

According to a statement from the California Highway Patrol, Dougherty was “traveling eastbound on Highway 36 at a high rate of speed for the conditions and was approaching the stopped and slower traffic ahead.” Dougherty was “unable to slow, stop or take evasive action” before his 1998 Ford Club Wagon Van struck the right rear of a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox driven by the unidentified woman killed in the crash. The Equinox was pushed forward and impacted the left rear of a 2024 Freighliner 2-axle truck tractor driven by Roberson Saint Phard, 36, of Tampa, Florida. Phard was not injured. His passenger, Stephen Sizemore, 25, of Springhill, Florida, suffered minor injures but was not transported for medical care.

After the Club Wagon’s collision with the Equinox, Dougherty veered to the right, missing the Freightliner but then veered back to the left, striking a 2016 Jeep Wrangler driven by Michael R. Warren, 31, of Susanville. Warren suffered minor injuries but was not transported for medical care.

The Wrangler was pushed forward and collided with the rear of a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Levy Y. Chaffin, 35, of Susanville. Chaffin and his passenger, Malinda C. Chaffin, 65, of Susanville, suffered minor injuries but were not transported for medical care.

According to the statement from the CHP, “The Susanville area CHP sends its heart-felt condolences to all those affected by the incident. The Susanville Area CHP would like to thank personnel from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, the Susanville Police Department, the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Transportation, CalFire, the Susanville Fire Department, High Desert State Prison, SEMSA, and staff at Banner Lassen and Renown medical centers and Lassen County Animal Control for their efforts and assistance at this extensive incident.”