Healdsburg man involved in fatal truck-van crash in Napa

A Healdsburg man was involved in a fatal traffic accident near Calistoga in Napa County Monday morning.

California  Highway Patrol Officer Jaret Paulson said Christopher
Palmer, 25, of Healdsburg, was driving south on Highway 29 in a 2001 Ford
F-350 utility truck.

At about 8:20 a.m. north of Dunaweal Lane in unincorporated Napa County, the truck drifted into the northbound lane in an S-curve and struck a 2011 Chrysler Town and Country van driven by John Harrelson, 50, of Chicago, according to Napa County sheriff's Capt. Tracey Stuart.

Harrelson was pronounced dead at the scene, Stuart said.

The front end of the Ford crashed into the side of the van, sending the van off the east shoulder of the road into a creek, Paulson said.

The Ford came to rest blocking both lanes of the highway, Paulson said.

Both drivers were extricated from their vehicles by the Calistoga Fire Department and Cal Fire, Paulson said.

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and were the only occupants of the vehicles, Paulson said.

Palmer suffered minor to moderate injuries and was taken to the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Paulson said.

The accident closed the road until around 11:20 a.m. Traffic was diverted onto Silverado Trail, Paulson said.

       By Bay City News Service