Davis man killed in car accident

A Davis man was killed Sunday night and a woman seriously injured after the vehicle they were in drifted off the freeway and slammed into a tree south of Davis, the California Highway Patrol reported.

David Erickson, 36, was in the passenger seat of a 1994 Ford Escort traveling west on Interstate 80 approaching Old Davis Road around 11:25 p.m., said CHP Sgt. Jason Hekker.

The car's driver was identified as 20-year-old Hillary Higgins, also of Davis. Suddenly, for unknown reasons, Hekker said, the car veered off the right edge of the road and plowed into a tree on the right side of the freeway.

Erickson, who authorities said was not wearing a seat belt, suffered fatal injuries in the single-vehicle crash and died at the scene, Hekker said. Higgins, who was seat belted, was flown by air ambulance to the University of California, Davis, Medical Center in Sacramento after suffering major injuries, Hekker said.

Higgins told officers she believes she "may have fallen asleep," but when officers arrived at the hospital and spoke to her, they said she was "exhibiting signs of drug usage," Hekker said. Hekker said as soon as Higgins recovers, she will be taken into custody on suspicion of felony driving under the influence causing injury.

"Pending our investigation, it's possible there will be other charges," he said.

Multiple tests were performed, and according to Hekker, charges will be filed through the district attorney's office, pending the test results.