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As the system of winter storms continues to batter California, officials have reported a death toll of at least 17 people across the state. On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the storms have claimed “more lives than wildfires in the past two years combined.”
The Times is gathering details for those deaths and will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.
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Man killed by falling tree at state beach, Santa Cruz County, Dec. 31
Gary Yules, a 72-year-old man from Santa Cruz, was killed by a falling cypress tree at Lighthouse Field State Beach in Santa Cruz on New Year’s Eve, according to the Santa Cruz County Coroner’s Office.
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Three bodies found in floodwaters, Sacramento County, Jan. 1
Three people died in floodwaters near where levees breached along the Cosumnes and Mokelumne rivers. They were pronounced dead New Year’s Day, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
- Steven Sampson, a 45-year-old man from McAlester, Okla.
- Katherine Martinez, a 61-year-old woman from Orland
- Mei Keng Lam, a 57-year-old woman from San Leandro
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Child killed in mobile home by falling tree, Sonoma County, Jan. 4
Aeon Tocchini, a 2-year-old boy from Occidental, was killed when a redwood tree fell on his family’s double-wide trailer, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. His father was also in the trailer but survived.
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Woman killed in hydroplaning car crash, Solano County, Jan. 4
Marmsha Nash, a 19-year-old woman from Fairfield, was killed when her car hydroplaned and hit a utility pole, according to Solano County officials.
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Two homeless people killed by falling trees in tents, Sacramento County, Jan. 7
Two homeless people were found dead in separate areas after tree branches fell onto their tents, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
- Rebekah Rohde, a 40-year-old unhoused woman
- Steven Sorensen, a 61-year-old unhoused man
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Man working on storm-related repair efforts killed when truck left roadway, Mendocino County, Jan. 7
Edgar Castillo, a 37-year-old man from Elk Grove, died during a traffic collision in Manchester. Castillo was employed by a company that was assisting the utility company PG&E with storm-related repair efforts in Mendocino County. He was driving a tree service boom truck that rolled over several times after leaving the roadway, county officials said.
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Woman killed by tree falling into her home while she slept, Mendocino County, Jan. 9
Susan Stever, a 68-year-old woman from Fort Bragg, was killed by a tree that fell into her home on North Highway 1 while she was asleep, according to county officials.
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Unidentified female driver found dead in floodwaters, San Luis Obispo County, Jan. 9
A woman died in a vehicle on a closed road after being overtaken by floodwaters in Avila Beach, according the California Highway Patrol.
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Two unidentified people killed in crash, Tulare County, Jan. 10
The crash that killed the victims was reported around 5:55 a.m. on Highway 99 near Goshen. Lightning struck a tree, causing it to fall onto the northbound lanes.
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Unidentified person killed in El Dorado County
The California Office of Emergency Services has reported a storm-related death in El Dorado County. County officials did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
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Unidentified person killed in Mariposa County
The California Office of Emergency Services has reported a storm-related death in Mariposa County. County officials did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
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Unidentified people killed in San Bernandino County
The California Office of Emergency Services has reported two storm-related deaths in San Bernardino County. County officials did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
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Unidentified person killed in Santa Clara County
The California Office of Emergency Services has reported a storm-related death in Santa Clara County. County officials did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
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Terry Castleman is a data reporter on the Fast Break Desk covering breaking news. In 2020, he was named alongside his colleagues as a Pulitzer Prize finalist in explanatory reporting. Previously, he worked at the New York Times and volunteered as a first responder for refugees arriving on the shores of Lesvos.
Hayley Smith covers breaking news in California with a focus on wildfires, drought and climate change. Originally from Miami, she holds a master’s degree in journalism from USC.
Grace Toohey is a reporter at the Los Angeles Times covering breaking news for the Fast Break Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Sentinel and the Advocate in Baton Rouge. Toohey is a Maryland native and proud Terp.
