CONCORD, CALIFORNIA – A violent solo-vehicle wreck shut down the southbound lanes of Kirker Pass Road across from the Concord Pavilion Friday afternoon, leaving the driver dead and the mangled vehicle sheared in two, according to Concord police.
Police and fire crews were dispatched at 1:51 p.m. to the area of Kirker Pass Road and Clearbrook Drive. Investigators say the motorist was heading downhill toward Concord when the car veered off the pavement and slammed into a tree.
The impact was so severe that it ripped the vehicle apart; the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Traffic officers closed the southbound side of the busy mountain pass for several hours while they mapped evidence and cleared debris; the roadway was reopened later in the afternoon. In a social-media update, Concord PD urged drivers to “use alternate routes and avoid the area” during the investigation.
A Dangerous Stretch
Friday’s tragedy is the second fatal crash on Kirker Pass in as many months. On May 20, a two-car collision at nearby Hess Road killed one person and critically injured two others, prompting renewed calls for safety improvements on the steep connector between Clayton and Concord.
We have that full story here.
What’s Next
Detectives are piecing together speed, mechanical and roadway factors to determine why the driver left the roadway. Anyone who witnessed Friday’s crash or has dash-cam footage is asked to contact the Concord Police Traffic Division at 925-671-3333.
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