A California Highway Patrol helicopter crew was instrumental in finding the victims of a fatal single-vehicle crash on a rural dirt road in unincorporated Solano County, Sgt. Mike Lehman said.

CHP received reports Sunday of an overturned Toyota Land Cruiser on the unnamed road near Pleasants Valley Road in northern Solano County, Lehman said, and a caller said one of the vehicle’s three occupants had sustained fatal injuries after being ejected during the accident.

But CHP officers and those on area firefighter trucks couldn’t find the vehicle, Lehman said.

CHP dispatched Helicopter 32, he said, and its crew, speaking by cell phone with a survivor of the crash, was able to find the accident scene.

Lehman said the Land Cruiser had lost traction while it was going down a steep grade.

“The parties in the Land Cruiser were deer hunters,” he said. “All three of the occupants were not seat belted.” All three were ejected as the vehicle tumbled and overturned several times.

Stephen Hoffman, 71, of Dixon, was dead at the scene, Lehman said. Two other Dixon residents were injured, Kevin Hodell, 45, and Zachary Hodell, 8. Lehman didn’t disclose their relationship, but the two were described later as having “moderate” injuries.

The helicopter airlifted the survivors from the scene. The elder Hodell was flown to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Vacaville, and the child was transferred to a Cal Star helicopter who took him to the University of California-Davis Medical Center.

Sharing is caring!