A 21-year-old man from Alderpoint died following an accident east of River Road near Alderpoint. The accident occurred on Tuesday, September 1, at 4 a.m.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Anthony A. Richards was a passenger in a 1989 Toyota pickup driven by Kenneth W. Bonnett, age 23, also of Alderpoint. They were proceeding westbound on an access road to the Eel River when Bonnett allowed the truck to run off the north edge of the road. The truck overturned several times down a steep embankment. Neither man was wearing a seat belt. Both were ejected from the cab.

Bonnett suffered minor to moderate injuries and fled the scene prior to the arrival of the CHP. He was later located at Redwood Memorial Hospital where he was determined to have been driving under the influence of drugs at the time of crash. He was arrested for vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run after receiving treatment for his injuries.

Richards suffered major injuries and was transported to Jerold Phelps Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.