Airman dies as result
of Highway 65 crash

WHEATLAND (5/5/03) -- Airman Matthew Lorge, 18, of Beale Air Force Base succumbed to injuries he suffered in Highway 65 accident, the California Highway Patrol reported Monday.

Lorge was injured about 10 p.m. Friday when the sedan in which he was a passenger collided with a sport utility vehicle at the intersection State Street just south of Wheatland, CHP Officer Jeff Trato said.

Sedan driver Airman Second Class Rocky Sullenger, 18, also of Beale AFB, stopped at a stop sign on State Street in rainy weather before entering Highway 65, Trato said.

A southbound Ford Blazer operated by Walter Schumacher, 22, of Rocklin collided with the left rear passenger side of Sullenger's Chevrolet Cavalier, according to CHP reports.

Lorge and Sullenger were transported to Sutter Hospital in Roseville where Lorge was pronounced dead about 4 p.m. Saturday, hospital officials reported.

Sullenger was not listed as a patient on Monday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Shumacher and his passenger, Christopher Young, 19, of Lodi, were transported to Rideout Emergency Center in Marysville where they were treated for minor injuries and released.

A third passenger in the Cavalier, Airman Jonathan Wahila, 22, also of Beale AFB, received minor injuries, according to CHP reports.

Sacramento Bee