Corning man connected to fatal wreck

Authorities want to talk to a Corning man in connection with a fatal accident in Colusa County earlier this week.

Angel A. Hernandez, 28, is a "person of interest" in the early morning accident Wednesday on Interstate 5 that left one man dead and injured his wife and daughter, the California Highway Patrol reported.

"We just need to locate him and talk to him to so we can piece this accident together," said CHP Officer John Waggoner.

Hernandez is the owner of the Ford F-150 pickup that collided with an SUV driven by Jeffrey Marshall Patton, 49, of Shingle Springs, who died at the scene. His wife, Nancy Jean Patton, 49, sustained minor injuries and was treated and released in Colusa. Their daughter, Olivia Daun Patton, 30, was ejected and taken to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento with major injuries. She was treated and released after two days in the hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Authorities believe Hernandez was driving his truck when the collision occurred. The truck careened off the road and overturned into a power pole. The driver fled on the scene.

Officers recovered a cell phone at the scene, which they used to contact several of Hernandez's relatives, Waggoner said.

Hernandez was last seen about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday in Corning. Family members told police Hernandez left Corning in his truck for Fresno and has not been seen since.

The collision occurred around 3:30 a.m. on northbound I-5 just south of Meyers Road in Colusa County. Both vehicles were traveling northbound in a heavy fog when they collided.

Investigators conducted four separate searches of the area after the collision, but were unable to locate anyone connected to the accident, Waggoner said.

Hernandez has ties to Corning, Fresno and Roseville, Waggoner said. Family members told police they have not seen or heard from Hernandez since the night before the collision.

He is described as 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 180 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair and a mustache. Investigators do not have a clothing description.

Anyone with information about Hernandez's whereabouts is asked to call the Williams' CHP office at 473-2821.

Contact Rob Parsons at 458-2121 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.