Mokelumne Hill, CA…The sad notifications have been made and now CHP has released the following on the fatal collision that closed Hwy 49 for several hours north of Mokelumne Hill yesterday. Kelly Dean Kuntz, 61 from Ione was was traveling northbound on State Route 49, south of Big Bar Road in a 2014 KW Tank Truck at approximately 45 MPH, approaching a curve in the roadway. He failed to maintain the tanker truck within the traffic lane and allowed it to collide with the guard rail on the east roadway shoulder. The force of this collision caused Vehicle to rollover the guard rail and roll into the ravine on the other side, where it came to rest.

At this time, it is unknown if drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in this collision.

From all of us at ThePineTree.net our prayers are with Mr. Kuntz’s family and friends.