chpOn July 25, 2020 at 8:55 pm, Mr. Josh Daugherty was driving a silver 2017 Toyota Tacoma crew cab, west on Benton Crossing Road at a stated speed of approximately 55-60 MPH just west of Pit Road. Mr. Daugherty made a series of turning movements that resulted in a loss of steering control which caused the Toyota to rotate in a counterclockwise direction across both lanes of Benton Crossing Road. Simultaneously, a white 2016 KIA Sorento Sport Utility Vehicle, driven by Mr. Richard Scott Holcomb, was traveling east in the same curved portion of Benton Crossing Road. The Toyota crossed into the eastbound lane, perpendicular to the roadway, and the front of the KIA impacted the passenger side of the Toyota. As a result of the collision the right rear passenger in the Toyota sustained fatal injuries.

*The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Toyota Tacoma:
Driver: Josh Daugherty, 30, of Mammoth Lakes CA, was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained major injuries. Transported to Northern Inyo Hospital.
Right front passenger: Eduardo Navarro, 27, of Mammoth Lakes CA, was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained major injuries. Transported to Mammoth Hospital.
Right rear passenger: Krystal Kazmark, 25, of Mammoth Lakes CA, was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained fatal injuries.

KIA Sorento:
Driver: Richard Holcomb, 71, of Hawthorne CA, was wearing a seatbelt and sustained major injuries. Transported by ambulance to Mammoth Hospital.
Right front passenger: Lora Holcomb,  69, of Hawthorne CA, was wearing a seatbelt and sustained major injuries. Transported to Mammoth Hospital.
Left rear passenger: “Minor”, was wearing a seatbelt and sustained moderate injuries. Transported to Mammoth Hospital.

Assisting Agencies:
1) Mono County Sheriff’s Department – Coroner.
2) Mono County EMS Medics 2 and 3
3) Mammoth Lakes Fire Department
4) Long Valley Fire Department

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