EL DORADO COUNTY, CA (December 1, 2025) — An 18-year-old man who died Sunday from a crash along Highway 50 in El Dorado County has been identified. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Sergio Gutierrez Garcia of Woodland.
Accident Details: The California Highway Patrol reported that around 7:15 p.m., a Ford F-250 towing a 32-foot fifth-wheel travel trailer was traveling west on Highway 50, just east of Camp Sacramento, when the driver allegedly lost control of the trailer.
The trailer crossed the centerline and into the path of a Jeep Compass traveling east. The Jeep driver was unable to avoid the collision, and the left side and top of the trailer crashed into the front of the Jeep, causing major damage to both vehicles.
Garcia was sitting in the Jeep’s right front passenger seat and suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Five people total were riding in the Jeep. The other four occupants sustained injuries:
- A 16-year-old boy passenger suffered major injuries
- A 13-year-old boy passenger suffered minor injuries
- A 6-year-old boy passenger suffered moderate injuries
- The driver, a 37-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries
The 32-year-old Lathrop man who drove the Ford F-250 was not reported as injured. All six people involved in the crash were wearing seat belts.
Investigation: The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision. Authorities indicated that the Ford driver lost control of the trailer while navigating a curve on Highway 50, causing it to swing into the opposite lane.
Any witnesses with information about the crash are asked to call Officer Heitzman at the South Lake Tahoe CHP Office at 530-539-9500.
Legal Considerations: Drivers towing large trailers bear responsibility for maintaining control of their vehicles and ensuring they travel at safe speeds for road conditions. When a trailer crosses into oncoming traffic due to excessive speed or loss of control, the towing driver’s negligence directly causes the resulting collision.
Fifth-wheel trailers measuring 32 feet require skill and caution to maneuver safely, particularly on mountain highways with curves. Drivers must reduce speed appropriately and account for how the trailer will respond to steering inputs and road conditions.
When a trailer crosses the centerline and strikes an oncoming vehicle head-on, the occupants of the struck vehicle face catastrophic injuries or death through no fault of their own. Garcia and the other Jeep occupants had no opportunity to avoid the collision once the trailer entered their lane.
Wrongful death claims in cases involving trailer loss of control typically name both the driver and potentially the trailer owner if different parties. These claims seek compensation for funeral expenses, Garcia’s pain and suffering before death, and the loss his family will experience for the rest of their lives.
The presence of four injured children in the Jeep, including one with major injuries, demonstrates the widespread harm caused by the driver’s failure to maintain control of his vehicle and trailer.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sergio Gutierrez Garcia as they grieve this tragic loss.