SINGLE VEHICLE COLLISION INVOLVING YEAR 2000 TOYOTA COROLLA. OCCUPANT IN VEHICLE INDICATES DECEDENT DRIVER MADE STATEMENT THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL THUS CAUSING COLLISION. INDEPENDENT WITNESS FOLLOWING BEHIND THE VEHICLE INDICATES THAT VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO COLLISION CONSISTENT WITH A MOVEMENT WHICH WOULD BE CAUSED BY A LOCKING AND NON-FUNCTIONING STEERING WHEEL. WE UNDERSTAND OTHER YEAR 2000 TOYOTA VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED WITH A DEFECT INVOLVING A LOCKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. COLLISION CAUSED ONE DEATH (DRIVER), TWO CHILDREN WERE SENT TO THE TRAUMA CENTER AT UC DAVIS HOSPITAL IN SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA, ONE ADULT FRONT PASSENGER REMAINS AT UC DAVIS HOSPITAL IN SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA IN SERIOUS CONDITION. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS INFORMATION BUT APPEARS NOT TO BE TAKING ANY ACTION REGARDING INSPECTION OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE AND COMPONENT ARE PRESERVED INTACT NEAR SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR