Tragedy on forty mile road: second crash fuels safety demands
Yuba County residents are again demanding action after a second devastating car crash on Forty Mile Road near the Hard Rock Casino claimed the life of a woman and critically injured three family members, including two young boys.
Families urge immediate safety improvements after deadly crash
The incident occurred Friday when the vehicle of Jaclyn Kazemba and her sons collided with another car. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported finding Kazemba’s car off the embankment. The other driver sustained serious injuries.
“I believe that road needs to be safer,” Kazemba stated from her hospital bed, her words echoing the desperation of a community grappling with repeated tragedies. Her 9-year-old son, Kyle, suffered broken bones in both legs and underwent surgery. His 13-year-old brother, Nicholas, remains in critical condition and is currently in a medically induced coma, having already undergone two surgeries to control brain swelling.
This latest crash follows a similar incident just last week where a woman in a wheelchair was killed near the same location. CHP data reveals a troubling pattern: in the past four years, Forty Mile Road near the Toyota Amphitheatre and Hard Rock Casino has seen two fatalities, seven serious injury crashes, and 25 minor injury crashes.
“In one or two days, I get to leave,” Kyle reportedly told his father, Ramon Deltoro. Deltoro recounted his son’s heartbreaking wish to absorb his mother’s and brother’s pain, allowing them to return home. “And for my youngest son to say that, it just hurts me,” Deltoro said, his voice thick with emotion.
Yuba County officials have announced plans for an entertainment zone development in the area, including safety improvements. However, the families involved are pushing for immediate action, fearing another tragedy. “They need more lights… traffic lights. I don’t want another family to ever go through this pain,” Deltoro insisted.
The road, a rural thoroughfare, suffers from a lack of adequate lighting and sidewalks, contributing to the dangerous conditions. The families' pleas highlight a growing urgency to address the safety concerns before another life is irrevocably altered.