The California Highway Patrol (CHP) says it appears 22-year-old John Lopes, an Army Ranger from Bremerton, fell asleep behind the wheel early Saturday on I-5 north of Redding.

Byron Duncan with CHP tells us there was no indication of alcohol or drug use, the driver simply fell asleep.

The Toyota Corolla station wagon left the road, went into a ditch on the right, and slammed into a embankment.

The driver and his brother, 19-year-old Lawrence Lopes, an active duty U.S. Marine, were killed as was their mother who was in the back seat. She's identified as 57-year-old Cornelia Hernandez, also of Bremerton.

Two others in the back seat were seriously injured, but will recover.

For More Information:

www.thesunlink.com
www.redding.com