Amador County – An Ione man was killed Tuesday afternoon when he was partly ejected from his van after crashing off a rain-slicked highway onramp in Concord. Joseph Conway, 45, of Ione died at the scene, and California Highway Patrol’s Contra Costa County unit continues to investigate the solo vehicle fatality.

Contra Costa CHP Public Information Officer John Fransen said at about 12:52 p.m. Tuesday, “Conway was driving a white Chevrolet van on the Willow Pass Road onramp to I-680 northbound in rain conditions, when for unknown reasons the van began to fishtail” and “it appeared the driver attempted to straighten out; however, again lost control and veered toward the right, where it struck a raised asphalt curb and collided with a light standard.”

Fransen said “the vehicle continued down an embankment and struck a tree before rolling onto its side.” The van came to rest on its roof in an REI sports parking area.

Fransen said the driver, who was the sole occupant of the van, “was partially ejected from the driver’s side window and crushed by the van.” Conway “succumbed to his injuries at the scene.”

The online Concord Patch listed Conway as a resident of Ione and Amador County. Fransen said he could not confirm that and had information that Conway was recently a resident of Pittsburg, California.

Reports indicated that Conway’s death came during more than a dozen traffic incidents reported Tuesday during Bay Area storms.

Fransen said “details of the traffic collision are still pending” and anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Contra Costa CHP unit at (925) 646-4980.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.