Cody Howell Obituary, Car Accident Death: Beloved Resident has Died In A Fatal Head-On Collision in San Bernardino County Leaves 19-Year-Old Dead
The community of Oro Grande and surrounding areas in San Bernardino County is mourning the tragic loss of 19-year-old Cody Howell, a recent Riverside Preparatory School Class of 2024 graduate, who died in a devastating head-on collision on Wednesday morning along National Trails Highway.
According to the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office and the California Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 6:56 a.m. west of Robinson Ranch Road and involved two vehicles: a northbound Dodge Ram pickup and a southbound Chevrolet Suburban. Investigators say Howell was driving the Suburban at the time of the collision.
For reasons still under active investigation, the two vehicles collided head-on in a violent impact that left both cars severely damaged. Emergency responders were dispatched quickly to the scene after multiple reports of a serious crash on the roadway. Despite rapid response efforts from firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement, Cody Howell suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
His sister, who was riding as a passenger in the vehicle, survived the crash but sustained injuries, including a concussion. Fire crews had to extricate her from the wreckage before she was transported to receive medical care. Family members have shared that she was on her way to school when the crash occurred and is now recovering at home.
The driver of the pickup truck was also seriously injured and was airlifted to a nearby trauma center for emergency treatment. Authorities have not yet released further details about that individual’s condition.
The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the collision, including factors such as roadway conditions, speed, and the sequence of events in the moments before impact. Officials have not yet indicated whether impairment or other contributing elements played a role.
Beyond the official investigation, Cody Howell is being remembered by friends, family, and his former school community as a kind, hardworking, and deeply caring young man with a bright future ahead of him. Loved ones describe him as someone who was devoted to his family, supportive of those around him, and full of potential that was cut tragically short.
In the days following the crash, a GoFundMe campaign was established to help the family with funeral costs and medical expenses, reflecting the outpouring of support from a grieving community. Messages of condolence and remembrance continue to be shared by those who knew him, highlighting the profound impact he had in his short life.
As investigations continue, Oro Grande mourns the loss of a young life gone far too soon, holding onto memories of Cody Howell and the lasting mark he left on those who knew and loved him.