Citrus Heights police investigating why truck ended up off road, into tree

A solo-vehicle collision across from city hall in Citrus Heights sent a 10-year-old to the hospital and nearly severed a truck in half on Wednesday.

Officer Anthony Boehle said police received multiple calls regarding the collision shortly before 6 a.m. on Jan. 4, with responding officers finding the crash scene just several hundred feet away from the police department building on Fountain Square Drive. He said the truck “left the road for an unknown reason,” knocked over a light pole, and then ended up against a tree.

The collision resulted in a 10-year-old passenger being sent to the hospital in unknown condition, but police said she was listed in stable condition as of 11 a.m. Boehle said the driver of the truck was cooperative with police and had only complained of minor pain.

The Chevy Silverado involved in the collision sustained significant damage, with a v-shaped side-impact almost severing the bed from the cab of the truck.

Five hours after the collision had occurred, one direction of traffic on Fountain Square Drive was still shut down and a pair of officers were on scene conducting an investigation. The roadway was later reopened around 1 p.m.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Boehle said the investigation was still in its early stages. Asked whether speed or alcohol may have been involved, he said “the investigation has not led to that.”

Boehle confirmed the truck had been traveling in the proper direction of southbound traffic and said all lighting along the roadway was working, but noted it had been raining at the time of collision. He said “it could be a month” before the investigation is completed, citing the need for a vehicle inspection to be completed, along with collection of medical records and other data.

From Friday: Man arrested after leading police on 90 MPH pursuit around Citrus Heights

According to police, the portion of roadway involved is not a typical location for collisions — located just after a slight turn in the road on Fountain Square Drive, about 100 feet from the roundabout on Stock Ranch Road.