A head‑on crash on Highway 180 near Dunlap Tuesday afternoon has left 34‑year‑old Misty Lynn dead and a family shaken. Lynn was driving her Kia Soul westbound just after 4 p.m. when a Tesla barreled into her lane and struck her car directly. The impact threw her vehicle down an embankment, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The California Highway Patrol says she had been heading to work when the crash happened.
The driver of the Tesla, 41‑year‑old Zachary Kinberger, was taken to a nearby hospital with serious but non‑life‑threatening injuries and then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. Kinberger’s vehicle veered into oncoming traffic on State Route 180 near Old Oak Road and hit Lynn without any sign of braking. Two young children under age 5 and a 21‑year‑old woman were also in the Tesla; all three were hospitalized but are expected to survive.
Investigators believe drugs played a role in the crash. They confirmed that the children were properly restrained in car seats at the time. Authorities also noted Kinberger has been arrested multiple times before, including for previous reckless and impaired driving incidents that date back decades. Court and police records show a history of 11 prior arrests, some involving reckless behavior and substance impairment.
Friends and co‑workers described Lynn as someone who was rebuilding her life and devoted to her work and her future. She was remembered as kind to children and animals and excited about new life goals, including plans to become a parent. Co‑workers said she had recently earned a ServSafe certification and was on the verge of a promotion at her job.
Lynn’s loss hit her community hard. Those who knew her called the crash senseless and completely avoidable, pointing out that a simple choice to drive sober might have kept her alive. People gathered, shared memories, and planned to honor her life with a celebration, emphasizing that her death was a ripple that would be felt by many.
The CHP continues its investigation and has urged drivers to avoid impaired driving and to be vigilant on rural highways. Charges against Kinberger have been filed, and he now faces serious legal consequences. The crash serves as a stark reminder of how quickly life can be cut short by poor decisions behind the wheel.
