Crime & Safety

Coroner IDs Pair Killed In Fiery Crash In Napa County

The accident near Butts Canyon Road Friday night claimed the lives of two men, 23 and 54.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Jayaram Notestine Memorial.

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The Napa County coroner’s office has identified two men who died in a crash in a rural northern part of the county last Friday as Jayaram Notestine, 23, of Middletown in Lake County, and Ernest Crain, 54, of Angwin.

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The crash occurred around 10 p.m. Friday in the area of Butts Canyon Road north of James Creek Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver of the 2005 Saab was heading south on Butts Canyon Road and apparently lost control of the vehicle, CHP officials said.

The car turned in a counter-clockwise direction, crossed the northbound lane and veered off the road. The vehicle crashed into some rocks but continued down an embankment for about 50 feet, where the engine ignited and engulfed the car in flames, according to the CHP.

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Notestine and Crain were pronounced dead at the scene.

Notestine was a student at Pacific Union College in Angwin, a school spokeswoman said.

Napa County sheriff’s Capt. Steve Blower said Notestine was identified by dental records and Crain was identified from photos and the clothing he was last seen wearing.

A GoFundMe page has been created to raise money for the costs of Notestine’s memorial services.


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