King City woman dies after truck hit head-on on State Route 198

UPDATE 11/4/2019 3:00 p.m. A King City woman has died after a head-on DUI crash on State Route 198 east of Pine Valley Sunday evening.

The CHP said 39-year-old Kyle Griffith from Simi Valley was driving a Toyota truck westbound when he tried to pass another vehicle illegally, but when he crossed the double yellow lines, he hit another vehicle head-on.

The other vehicle involved, a Nissan truck, went into the south shoulder. The driver, a 42-year-old King City man, was ejected and airlifted to the hospital with major injuries. His passenger, 35-year-old Nazaria Rivera Garcia died at the scene.

The CHP said Griffith’s car rolled and caught fire in the north shoulder. He and his passenger got out before the fire spread to about 500 feet. Griffith’s passenger was also airlifted to the hospital with major injures.

The CHP said alcohol was a factor in the crash and arrested Griffith on DUI charges. His injuries were minor.

PREVIOUS STORY: The east bound lanes of Highway 198 are closed east of Pine Valley Road all the way to the county line because of a two car accident where at least one person was killed, according to the CHP.

The CHP said the crash happened around 7:38 p.m. Sunday night.

There is no estimated time of opening lanes back up.