Yuba City man arrested for vehicular manslaughter in November 2023 incident
May 13—Yuba City resident Gurninder Rai, 19, was arrested Friday and charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence after his reported involvement in a fatal crash that took place last year on State Route 99.
After his arrest, Rai had bail set at $100,000. Rai, who was released after posting bail, is set to appear in a Sutter County court for his arraignment on June 10, according to court records.
On Nov. 15, 2023, Rai was involved in a crash on State Route 99 that eventually claimed the life of 23-year-old Jadyn Davon Fife, the Appeal previously reported.
According to the California Highway Patrol, which initially listed Rai's age as 20, Rai was driving a 2020 Freightliner semitrailer north on State Route 99 in the no. 2 lane as he approached Bogue Road in Yuba City. A 2007 Toyota Yaris driven by 21-year-old Dominic McKibbon of Wheatland was driving south on State Route 99 in the left turn lane and was turning left to eastbound Bogue Road, an accident report stated.
As McKibbon's vehicle was making the turn, Rai's semitrailer collided with the right front of the Toyota, which caused it to overturn north of the intersection causing all northbound and southbound lanes to be blocked, according to the CHP.
Fife, who was a passenger in the Toyota, was "critically injured" and airlifted to Sutter Roseville Medical Center in Roseville, the CHP said. McKibbon, the driver, suffered "what appeared to be moderate injuries" and was transported to Adventist Health/Rideout Hospital in Marysville, the report stated. McKibbon was later moved to UC Davis Medical Center's trauma care unit for further treatment.
At about 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 19, 2023, Fife died at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, the CHP previously said. Fife, according to information from the Placer County Sheriff's Office, died a day before his 24th birthday.
Officials said at the time that drugs or alcohol were not considered a factor in the crash.
