Two sustain fatal injuries in Highway 395 collision

Two Herlong residents sustained fatal injuries in a Tuesday afternoon collision that impacted Highway 395 traffic for several hours. Their identities are pending notification.

According to a statement from CHP-Susanville, at about 12:07  p.m. Tuesday, June 22 CHP Dispatch notified units of a collision involving multiple vehicles on Highway 395 north of Flux Road.

Traffic was stopped due to a prior collision within the vicinity. Upon arrival, CHP Officer Pratt located a Red GMC Yukon that was rear-ended by a white tractor-trailer combination. The driver of the tractor-trailer combination allegedly failed to slow for stopped traffic ahead, and collided with the rear of the Yukon, crushing the Yukon against the rear of a tractor trailer that was stopped in front of the Yukon.

Janesville Fire Department and Milford Fire Department arrived on scene to assist Officer Pratt.

Emergency personnel were unable to revive the occupants of the Yukon, read the statement; however, EMS personnel were able to stabilize Joshua Virts, of Belt, Montana, the driver of the tractor-trailer combination. Virts was transported to Renown Hospital for his injuries. The occupants of the Yukon, a 51-year-old woman who was driving and a 25-year-old man, were pronounced deceased by Deputy Coroner Canham.

This collision is currently under investigation.