Crash kills visitor northwest of Bishop

November 11, 2010

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This 1994 Honda veered off the highway and into this tree near Mill Creek Road on southbound US 395 at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday. According to the CHP, the driver sustained fatal injuries. Photo by Mike Bodine

A single-vehicle accident in the Bishop area on Saturday has left a 20-year-old Long Beach man dead.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Raphael Contreras suffered fatal injuries after losing control of his 1994 Honda on U.S. 395 northwest of Bishop.
The CHP reported that Contreras was traveling southbound on U.S. 395 south of Mill Creek Road around 10:45 a.m. when, for an unknown reason, Contreras let the vehicle move to the left, onto the left shoulder. Contreras turned the vehicle to the right and lost control of the Honda.
The Honda traveled across both southbound lanes, onto the right shoulder and down the slight embankment before striking a tree.
The vehicle’s roof was crushed in, its tail in the air, wrapped around a tree.
Contreras suffered fatal injuries.
The CHP was assisted by Bishop Fire Department, CalFire and Symon’s Ambulance.
The Inyo County Coroner reported Monday that Contreras’ family has been notified as well as his cousins in Mammoth Lakes.