Retired San Jose police captain among five killed in weekend wreck on I-5 near Corning
A retired San Jose Police Department captain was among the five people who died in a wreck on Interstate 5 last weekend in Tehama County.
Randall Schriefer, 52, of Morgan Hill, was driving the 2016 Ram truck involved in the fatal collision on I-5 near Corning last Saturday, the Tehama County Coroner’s Office said.
A tribute to Schriefer was posted on the San Jose Police Department's Facebook page. He worked nearly 25 years for the department before he retired.
“As we grieve his passing, let us always remember and honor his life, his legacy, and the indelible impact he left on our community. We want to extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. We are completely heartbroken by the news and will forever cherish his memory,” the Facebook post said.
Also killed in the wreck were Patti Larsen, 36; Shawn Chastain, 46; and Thomas Bruce, 47, all from San Diego County, the coroner’s office said. They were in the 2003 Infiniti that collided with the Ram truck. Chastain was driving the Infiniti, investigators said.
The name of the 8-year-old girl who also was in the Infiniti and died was not released.
The deadly collision happened around 12:45 p.m. Saturday in the area of Liberal Avenue near Corning and shut down the freeway in both directions for several hours.
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According to the California Highway Patrol, the Infiniti was traveling north on I-5 when for unknown reasons the vehicle crossed the center median and into the southbound lanes of I-5 where it collided head-on with the Ram truck that was towing a 5th-wheel travel trailer.
None of the people in the Infiniti were wearing seatbelts, investigators said.
Schriefer’s passenger, a 48-year-old woman, also from Morgan Hill, suffered major injuries, the CHP said.
The CHP did not immediately return a phone message Thursday morning seeking an update on the investigation.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: 4 of 5 victims in deadly I-5 crash in Tehama County identified
