An 80-year-old man who died this morning in a crash on Interstate Highway 80 near Vallejo might have suffered a medical emergency while he was driving, a California Highway Patrol officer said.
The Napa County coroner’s office responded to the solo-vehicle crash, which happened around 11:20 a.m. on westbound I-80 west of American Canyon Road.
Napa County sheriff’s Capt. Tracey Stuart identified the driver as Shogo Hatori, of San Francisco.
Hatori’s 2010 Ford Fusion went off the right shoulder of I-80 and tumbled 200 feet down an embankment, CHP Officer Craig Kuehl said.
“Initial indications point to a possible medical emergency due to the fact that the vehicle left the roadway and continued on a path on the right shoulder, failing to brake prior to launching off the embankment,” Kuehl said.
Witnesses saw the Ford leave the road in a straight line, Kuehl said.
Hatori was wearing his seat belt, and the front and side airbags deployed, Kuehl said.
Firefighters from Fairfield and Cordelia responded, and the Fairfield Fire Department pronounced Hatori dead at 11:50 a.m., Kuehl said.
Kuehl said it was raining at the time of the crash.
James Lanaras, Bay City News
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