The incident was reported shortly before 2 a.m. January 18, on Greenback Lane and Dewey Drive
Citrus Heights, CA – A woman was killed after her vehicle crashed into a utility pole in the Citrus Heights area early Sunday morning, according to the Citrus Heights Police Department.
The incident was reported shortly before 2 a.m. January 18, on Greenback Lane and Dewey Drive.
According to police, an SUV lost control and slammed into a utility pole for unspecified reasons. The SUV was occupied by the sole female driver.
The officers with the Citrus Heights Police Department arrived at the scene shortly after and performed life-saving measures on the driver, who was found unconscious in her vehicle.
The Sacramento Metro Fire also responded to the scene and transported the woman to a hospital. Despite efforts to save her life, the woman was declared deceased at the hospital.
The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office will release the woman’s identity once her next-of-kin is notified.
Authorities are still working to determine what led up to the accident though preliminary investigations reveal that impairment may have played a role.
The crash caused the closure of Eastbound Greenback Lane between Hilltree Avenue and Dewey Drive as authorities investigated the incident.
The Citrus Heights Police Department Traffic Unit is handling the investigation.
Sacramento experiences a significant number of traffic collisions, with thousands reported annually and an increasing trend in recent years. In 2023, the city of Sacramento recorded 57 fatal wrecks, accounting for a fatal collision approximately once every 6.4 days. The broader Sacramento County surpassed 100 total traffic-related deaths, including drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, by September of 2025. Common causes for these incidents mirror state and national trends, with human error being a primary factor. Leading causes include impaired driving (alcohol and drugs), speeding, and distracted driving, all of which are considered highly avoidable. Specific crash types show that broadside (T-bone) accidents were the deadliest in 2023, making up 19.3% of all fatal collisions, followed by hitting a fixed object. Pedestrians and cyclists are disproportionately affected, with recent data showing a concerning trend of pedestrian fatalities, often occurring on multi-lane roads in economically disadvantaged areas not originally designed for diverse user safety. Young drivers between the ages of 18 and 25 are also involved in more crashes than other age demographics in Sacramento.
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