Chinese visitor killed, five hurt in Big Sur wreck

Big Sur – One person was killed and four were injured in a single vehicle accident on Highway 1 in Big Sur on Wednesday.

A 57-year-old Chinese national, Xia Wang, died at the scene of the wreck on the highway at Captain Cooper School at about 3:24 p.m. after a 2017 Mercedes Metrs van she was riding in collided with a tree on the west shoulder of the roadway.

One person, 58-year-old Beibin Zhang, was flown to Natividad Medical Center by Calstar helicopter with an unknown major injury, while another four people were transported to Natividad by ambulance after complaining of pain.

The driver of the van, 61-year-old Nanou Zhang, was traveling south on Highway 1 with five members of his family when the accident occurred. All six occupants of the van were Chinese nationals from Beijing, including 27-year-old Yixue Zhang, 30-year-old Zaoyue Zang, and 57-year-old Xiaoging Liu. Only four appeared to be properly restrained, according to authorities.

The collision is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.