February 6, 2018 – On February 5, 2018, at approximately 4:15 pm, a Toyota Corolla with two male occupants was traveling on State Route 20 westbound, east of Pine Needle Way, towards Nevada City. According to witnesses, the Toyota was driving erratically within the westbound traffic lane prior to the collision. For unknown reasons the Toyota Corolla made an unsafe turn to the right where it traveled off the north roadway edge of State Route 20 and collided with a sign and several trees.
CHP personnel responded to the scene along with fire department and other emergency medical personnel. Unfortunately, due to the injuries sustained during the collision, both male occupants in the Toyota Corolla were pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver was 45-year-old Robert J. Johnson of Nevada City, the passenger was Robert M. Johnson, 67, of Marysville.
CHP is handling the investigation. It is unknown if drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in the collision.
State Route 20 was closed for a short time until traffic· was diverted around the collision scene with the help of emergency personnel. Other agencies responding to this incident were the Nevada County Consolidated Fire Protection District, Sierra Nevada Ambulance Service, Nevada County Sheriffs Department, and Caltrans.