Humboldt County Man Booked on Gross Vehicular Manslaughter Charge Following Fatal Head-On Crash Near Williams Last Night

A local man was booked into the Colusa County Jail late Friday night on gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI-related charges following a violent head-on collision on Highway 20 west of Williams that caused air ambulances to be dispatched, extrication efforts, and a lengthy highway closure.

According to information confirmed through the Colusa County Jail, a Garberville man, Keith Wittlake, was booked at approximately 11:05 p.m. Friday, May 8, on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, and driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit causing injury. Bail was listed at $250,000.

The charges listed by the jail include:

Penal Code 191.5(a) — Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated
Vehicle Code 23153(a) — DUI causing injury
Vehicle Code 23153(b) — DUI causing injury with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater

While the California Highway Patrol had not yet responded to requests for information as of publication time, CHP traffic incident logs and social media reports appear to correspond to a major collision reported Friday night on Highway 20 in Colusa County.

According to the CHP Traffic Incident Information Page, a traffic collision involving two vehicles was reported at approximately 10:24 p.m. on State Route 20 westbound just west of King Road in the Williams CHP area.

The CHP log described the incident initially as involving a “white sedan versus unknown vehicle” with “smoke coming from white sedan.” Within minutes, the log noted “glass and debris” in the roadway, confirmed two vehicles involved, and later identified the incident as a “head on traffic collision.”

CHP logs show SR-20 was closed in both directions by approximately 10:33 p.m. Tow companies were requested to the scene, and the roadway reportedly remained partially closed for several hours overnight.

Comments posted publicly by individuals monitoring scanner traffic described a far more serious incident than the abbreviated public CAD entries reflected.

One commenter wrote that “2 patients need extrication,” while another reported hearing requests for “2 air ambulances.” Additional commenters stated CPR was in progress on at least one patient and later claimed one person was “10-55,” a radio code commonly used to indicate an intoxicated  deceased person.

Several commenters also reported hearing helicopters responding to the area. One commenter identified the aircraft as “Williams 331” and “Reach 6.”

Those details have not yet been independently confirmed by CHP.

The crash occurred near the intersection of Highway 20 and King Road west of Williams in Colusa County.

Please remember this story is based on jail records, CHP CAD logs, and publicly posted scanner-monitoring comments. Early reports can be incorrect. We will update if we get new information.