One woman is dead following three-car crash

One woman is dead following a three-car accident near Paso Robles Sunday.

According to the California Highway Patrol, at 3:35 p.m. a driver in a 2012 Mazda traveling Eastbound on state Route 46 near state Route 41 drifted into Westbound lanes and collided with a semi truck headed in the opposite direction. A Toyota traveling behind the semi-truck then hit the Mazda, as well.

The semitrailer was pulling a trailer loaded with approximately 8,000 gallons of hot oil. After the collision, the impact of the crash caused the trailer to become detached and rolled down an embankment where it came to rest on its side about 65 feet from the roadway, according to CHP.

The driver of the Mazda, 71-year-old Michelle E. Saunders from Seaside, California was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Toyota suffered major injuries and the driver of the semi-truck suffered minor injuries.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. No further details were immediately known.