LUCERNE — Six were injured in a three-vehicle collision that stopped traffic on Highway 20 near Paradise Cove Thursday night, leading California Highway Patrol (CHP) to arrest a Lower Lake man for suspicion of felony DUI.
CHP Officer Adam Garcia said the DUI arrest was raised to a felony because the incident resulted in injuries.
Lower Lake resident Joseph Dingess, 35, was driving a red Ford Ranger west on Highway 20 just east of Cora Drive when according to a CHP press release, he lost control of his vehicle and crossed double-yellow lines. The Ranger hit the left side of a yellow Pontiac Firebird in the opposite lane, then continued out of control, its rear end hitting the front of a silver Toyota 4Runner also headed east behind the Firebird.
Highway 20 was closed at 7:30 p.m. for about an hour, with one-way traffic control for another half an hour after that.
A total of six were injured, drivers and passengers included, and five were taken to local hospitals, states the release. Dingess was flown by REACH helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Garcia said that was likely a precautionary measure taken by emergency responders because of the severity of damage to his truck.
Dingess reportedly had two passengers, one of whom is a minor, who were both taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
John Sorden, 51, of Clearlake, had one passenger in the Firebird; both were taken to Redbud Hospital. Driving the 4Runner was David Lucientes, 54, of Williams. Lucientes and one passenger were transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital. Both drivers reportedly had moderate injuries.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
