CLEARLAKE OAKS – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed Monday that a man suffered broken ribs after his parked truck was hit by a semi on Highway 20 near Keys Boulevard.
The accident happened July 27 at 2:15 p.m. when Noel Vega”s 2000 Nissan Frontier truck was parked on the south shoulder of Highway 20 while he used his cell phone. A big rig driven by Clifton Meadows rear-ended him going an estimated 35 miles per hour based on witness statements, according to CHP officer Rob Hearn.
The impact caused Vega”s truck to roll and come to rest on its roof, said Hern. Vega was taken by ambulance to Redbud Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for broken ribs and eventually released.
Meadows was arrested on original suspicion of a DUI, said Hearn. After a drug recognition evaluation, “I later determined Mr. Meadows was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but had a preexisting medical condition that contributed to his poor driving,” said Hearn, who is a drug recognition expert in addition to his standard CHP training.
Meadows” arrest prompted a search of his vehicle, and officers found prescription drugs for which Meadows had no prescription. Hearn explained that because the drugs were an opiate derivative, Meadows” possession of them without a prescription amounted to a felony.
Meadows was released from custody, but has a court date which may result in either a fine or jail time, or both.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
