Local woman dies in accident

OCOTILLO — A 20-year-old Brawley woman died during a single vehicle collision that occurred Tuesday night on westbound Interstate 8, west of State Route 98, according to reports from the California Highway Patrol and the county Coroner’s Office.

Diana Lizbeth LopezCillas crashed on Tuesday night and wasn’t discovered until nearly 10 hours later by authorities Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday when LopezCillas was driving her Toyota Scion westbound on I-8, west of SR-98 (West Y). Preliminary investigations place the Toyota in the #1 lane of traffic drifting toward the center median and mountain side.

Lopez-Cillas reportedly overcorrected her steering to the right, which caused her to lose control of the vehicle and subsequently drive off the north road edge down a rocky ravine.

Due to the evidence found at the scene, it is believed the vehicle rolled over several times down the ravine before coming to rest on the driver side facing a southeasterly direction.

Lopez-Cillas suffered fatal injuries in the accident. The collision was not witnessed and went unreported until 8:20 a.m. Wednesday.

An RV going by the area called 911 and reported the Toyota over the side of the ravine. The occupants of the RV were able to see the car due to the height of their vehicle.

Lopez-Cillas was wearing her seat belt, and alcohol/drugs were not a factor in the accident.

The cause of death and the collision remain under investigation, a CHP news release stated.