LAKE COUNTY — A head-on collision Sunday severely injured an Upper Lake man and resulted in his arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. The weekend was the first of two maximum enforcement periods that the California Highway Patrol planned for two consecutive holiday weekends.
Michael Rather, 61, was driving a 2005 Dodge truck north in the southbound lane of Highway 29 just north of Mockingbird Lane when the accident occurred, according to a California Highway Patrol press release. James Davis, 50, of Lakeport was driving south in a 2001 Dodge truck.
Davis swerved left in an evasive maneuver when the two trucks collided, according to the CHP report. Rather”s truck continued north and went up a dirt embankment and rolled over before it stopped. The truck came to rest blocking both lanes of traffic. Highway 29 was closed for two and a half hours between Mockingbird Lane and the intersection of Highways 29 and 20.
Rather was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital by REACH helicopter with major injuries, according to the CHP report. Information about Rather”s condition was not available Wednesday. Davis was not reported injured.
Rather was charged with DUI. CHP officer Adam Garcia said Rather was arrested and released to the hospital for care. Rather”s arrest was not counted among the eight arrests that the CHP made during the first of two maximum enforcement periods for consecutive holiday weekends. Approximately 80 percent of the CHP”s available officers patrolled Lake County beginning on the evening of Friday, Dec. 22 and continuing through Christmas.
Of the eight arrested by the CHP during that time frame, six were charged with DUI. One man was arrested on multiple warrants, and two men were arrested on charges of selling marijuana. The Clearlake and Lakeport police each made one DUI arrest during the weekend maximum enforcement period.
Another enforcement period will begin on the evening of Friday, Dec. 28 and continue through New Year”s Day.
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