UPDATE: Passenger killed, driver hospitalized in Highway 299 crash at Whiskeytown

A head-on crash between a big rig and a pickup left one person dead and started a fire Wednesday morning on Highway 299 near the Whiskeytown visitor center, west of Redding.

Traffic was returning to normal about 4:30 p.m. after the crash blocked the highway 1.5 miles west of the visitor center, the California Department of Transportation said. One-way traffic controls had been in place between the center and Whiskey Creek Road.

The California Highway Patrol said at about 7:40 a.m., Charles French, 57, of Redding was driving east on the highway with a passenger inside a 2001 Ford F-150, west of Whiskey Creek Road.

The pickup crossed the double-yellow lines for unknown reasons and ran into a 2023 Volvo truck-tractor driven by Benjamin Cathcart, 29, of Shingletown, the CHP said.

French was taken to Mercy Medical Center with major injuries while his female passenger died from her injuries. Both were not wearing seatbelts, the CHP said. Cathcart, who was wearing a seatbelt, had no known injuries, the CHP said.

The CHP says the collision remains under investigation.

"At this time, it is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs was a factor," the CHP said.

Earlier reports by Caltrans that the fire spread to surrounding vegetation were incorrect, Cal Fire spokeswoman Cheryl Buliavac said.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and entertainment stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Passenger killed, driver hospitalized in Hwy. 299 crash at Whiskeytown