Lake County Official Killed in Highway 20 Semi Crash

LAKE COUNTY, CA – A Lake County public works official died and a tractor-trailer driver was injured in a fiery head-on crash Friday morning on Highway 20 in Colusa County. The Highway 20 collision occurred after a westbound Honda crossed the centerline east of Lone Star Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Authorities identified the Honda driver as Lars Ewing, 49, of Lakeport. The CHP said he was driving a 1995 Honda at about 8 a.m. when the car entered the eastbound lane between Williams and Colusa for a reason that investigators had not determined.

The Honda collided with a 2024 International semi-truck traveling in the opposite direction. Both vehicles came to rest in the roadway and caught fire. Ewing died at the scene, while the 42-year-old truck driver from Yuba City was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries.

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Lars Ewing Crash Closed Hwy 20 for Hours

The CHP said both drivers were wearing seat belts. Its preliminary account did not identify a mechanical problem, roadway condition or other event that caused the Honda to cross the centerline, and it did not announce a citation or final determination of responsibility.

Emergency crews extinguished the vehicle fires and worked around a substantial diesel spill. Caltrans estimated that the crash released between 120 and 150 gallons of diesel fuel, adding cleanup work to the collision investigation and vehicle removal.

Highway 20 remained closed for much of Friday as responders cleared the scene. The route reopened shortly before 4 p.m., nearly eight hours after the collision was reported. The CHP said its investigation into the crossing movement and impact remained underway.

Ewing Led County Departments

Ewing had worked for Lake County since 2010, first as an assistant Public Works director and later as Public Services director. He assumed interim leadership of Public Works in 2025 and was appointed in April to lead a department created by consolidating Public Works and Public Services.

Before joining county government, Ewing graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a civil engineering degree and served five years as an Air Force civil engineering officer. He became a licensed California civil engineer in 2008 and later worked on county road, airport and infrastructure projects.

Ewing had resigned from his county position the day before the crash. The county did not give a reason for the resignation, and authorities did not indicate that it was connected to the collision. He was survived by his wife and five children.

The public account had not identified the injured truck driver or provided a later medical update. Investigators continued to examine why the Honda crossed into the truck’s lane before both vehicles burned on the highway.