Mother Dies, Teen Behind The Wheel In Silverado Trail Crash: CHP

NAPA COUNTY, CA — A Lake County woman died in a car crash Thursday while her 15-year-old daughter was behind the wheel, the California Highway Patrol said.

The fatal incident happened at 4 p.m. Thursday on Silverado Trail, south of Yountville Cross Road near Baldacci Vineyards Road.

The driver, a 15-year-old Lower Lake girl with a learner's permit, was going 60 mph southbound on Silverado Trail when, for reasons still under investigation, she allowed her 2010 Honda to drift onto the southbound shoulder, CHP Officer Marc Renspurger said.

"As a result, the Honda collided with a tree that was approximately 13 feet west of the roadway," Renspurger said.

CHP dispatchers noted that at least two employees of a nearby vineyard and an off-duty Cal Fire employee were at the scene and tried to free someone who became trapped inside the car.

Danita Shook, 40, of Lower Lake, was riding in the front passenger seat and suffered fatal injuries, the CHP said.

The driver and her 13-year-old brother, who was riding in the back seat, both suffered minor injuries and were taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa.

"The juveniles are children of the deceased mother," Renspurger said.

CHP determined the teen driver had a valid learner's permit at the time of the crash. All three people in the car were wearing their seat belts, and alcohol was not a factor, Renspurger said.

There was major traffic congestion in the area as emergency personnel responded, the CHP said.

The fatal crash remained under investigation Friday.

Amazing, Devoted Mother & Wife

Danita Shook was described by loved ones as an "amazing mother and wife" whose kids were "absolutely her life."

Shook was the cheerleading coach at Middletown High School and was "so loved in the community," Melissa Calvert wrote on a GoFundMe page organized to help Shook's family with the unexpected funeral expenses.

By 4 p.m. Friday, donations to the "Support for the Shook Family" GoFundMe campaign were approaching the $9,000 mark.