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E-mail StoryBakersfield businessman killed in Highway 166 crash
| Wednesday, May 7 2008 11:39 AM
Last Updated: Thursday, May 8 2008 7:54 AM
A Bakersfield businessman died from injuries suffered in a crash on Highway 166 near Santa Maria when his car collided with a big rig.
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Charles McAtee handout photograph
Charles McAtee, 41, was airlifted and pronounced dead at a hospital at 5:35 p.m. on Tuesday, California Highway Patrol officers said.
McAtee was driving a 2007 Chevy Corvette eastbound on Highway 166 at 2:32 p.m. when he approached a curve in the roadway east of Tepusquet Canyon Road, officers said. He failed to negotiate the curve and crossed into the westbound lane and into the path of a big rig driven by 60-year-old Kenneth Wheeler.
Wheeler braked but was unable to avoid a collision, according to officers. The Corvette sustained major front-end damage and came to rest on the south roadway shoulder.
The big rig also sustained major front-end damage and jackknifed. The trailer blocked both lanes of the highway, officers said.
McAtee was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the Corvette and landed in the roadway just east of the car.
McAtee was president and owner of Pacific Auction Exchange Inc., a real estate auction company established in 1999, according to the company’s Web site. He became a partner in the company in 2000 and was responsible for directing day-to-day operations, hiring, developing the sales staff and setting up and conducting auctions.
A recorded message at PAX’s Bakersfield office said they were not taking calls at that time “out of respect and memory” of McAtee.