EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. – More details have been released on Tuesday’s fatal crash on US50 east of Ice House Road in El Dorado County. Officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Placerville office responded to the single-vehicle crash around 4 p.m. on May 26.
According to CHP, a 2024 Hyundai SUV was traveling eastbound when it left the roadway and went down an embankment into the American River. It was raining at the time, and the driver lost control on a curve.
In the car were the driver, Mathew Fife, 41, of Tracy, California, his wife, Maria, 35, and two boys, ages 5 and 11. Maria died at the scene, and the 5-year-old died later at the hospital. The 11-year-old is still hospitalized with major injuries, and Mathew was reported to have minor injuries.
In a televised interview, Sgt. Brian Samms of CHP said, “Unsafe speed for traffic conditions is suspected at this time to be a likely cause for this collision, as alcohol involvement has been ruled out at this time.”
Samms said good Samaritans went down the embankment to try to help the family before first responders arrived.
The crash is still under investigation.