Woman killed at highway crossing

Two vehicle crashes near the crossroads of local highways occurred in the past two days, resulting in multiple injuries and one death.

A 26-year-old Smith River woman, Brooke Ruyle, was killed Monday afternoon when her vehicle, which had been traveling northbound on Highway 101 at approximately 55 mph, drifted off  the east side of the road, traveled down an embankment and struck a redwood tree near the Kings Valley Road intersection, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The reason the vehicle drifted off the road was not known, the CHP said. The single-vehicle crash was first reported at 4:15 p.m.

Brooke Ruyle was taken to Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City, where she succumbed to her injuries, the CHP said.

An infant in the vehicle, Danica Ruyle of Smith River, was discovered properly restrained in a child safety seat in the backseat of the vehicle, according to the CHP. The child was also taken to Sutter Coast Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries.

Patricia Terry, 30, of Eureka was driving about 55 mph when Groves’ vehicle pulled out in front of her, the CHP said.

Terry’s Mazda Protege struck Groves’ Buick on the right side, sending it into the stop sign for westbound Elk Valley Cross Road traffic.

Groves’ Buick rolled over once, landing back on its wheels. She was trapped in her vehicle and Crescent City firefighters used a Jaws of Life device to free her.

Groves with taken to Sutter Coast Hospital with moderate injuries, while Terry and her passenger, Katherine Taylor, 21, also of Eureka, suffered minor injuries, the CHP said.

There have been 34 accidents at that intersection over the last 10 years, according to CHP Officer Larry Depee.

Staff writer Bill Choy contributed to this report.