WHISKEYTOWN, California — Five people died and one person sustained critical injuries following a two-vehicle collision

WHISKEYTOWN, California — Five people died and one person sustained critical injuries following a two-vehicle collision on State Route 299 in Shasta County on Saturday night, September 19, 2026. Dispatch logs from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) indicate that at approximately 9:10 p.m., a westbound Honda Civic crossed solid double yellow lines east of Whiskey Creek Road near Whiskeytown Lake and struck an eastbound 2007 Toyota Prius head-on. Both vehicles caught fire upon impact, briefly spreading flames to nearby vegetation before responding fire units contained the blaze.

Emergency first responders—including the California Highway Patrol, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, CAL FIRE, and regional EMS units—extricated occupants and provided immediate medical care. Three occupants inside the Honda and the driver of the Prius were pronounced deceased at the scene. Two passengers from the Prius were evacuated to a regional trauma center, where one later passed away. Highway 299 remained closed in both directions for several hours during emergency, rescue, and clearing operations.

Official Investigation and Medical Examiner Identifications

The California Highway Patrol's Redding Area office and the Shasta County Sheriff-Coroner's Office have opened a joint investigation into the crash dynamics. Officials identified the driver of the Toyota Prius as 52-year-old Sharlene Anna Casados Black of Anderson (and Happy Valley), California, and one of her passengers as 19-year-old Mason David Baker of Redding. The second passenger in the Prius, 19-year-old Charles Casados Black (son of Sharlene Black), survived the crash and remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition in an intensive care unit.

Family members identified the three occupants in the Honda Civic as 31-year-old April Star Sylvia Moon and her two young sons, five-year-old Little Eagle Moon and four-year-old Hawk Mogli Moon, all of Weitchpec. CHP collision reconstruction specialists continue to evaluate speed, road conditions, and vehicle telemetry to determine why the westbound vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic. Official findings regarding contributing factors remain unconfirmed pending final forensic reports.

Community Tributes and Funeral Status

The loss of five lives in a single incident has brought deep sorrow to communities across Shasta, Trinity, and Humboldt counties. Tributes have poured in honoring April Star Sylvia Moon—a firefighter and mother who was born April 16, 1995—and her sons, Little Eagle (born October 27, 2020) and Hawk Mogli (born December 10, 2021). Community members have also extended prayers and support to the families of Sharlene Casados Black and Mason David Baker while rallying behind Charles Casados Black during his ongoing medical recovery.

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her son Charles Casados Black, 19, remains in the ICU in critical but

'My heart go out to the family and pray for there sons recovery. This is a terrible tragedy and im so sorry for yhe loss of your family me