LAKE COUNTY — The California Highway Patrol Wednesday released the name of the Middletown woman killed in a Monday night accident at the intersection of Highway 29 and Spruce Grove Road.
Carmen Barnett, 36, was driving a 1999 Dodge Intrepid south on Highway 29 just north of Spruce Grove Road in Middletown. According to a Tuesday CHP report, Barnett over-corrected after she drifted onto the shoulder of the road. The Dodge spun into the northbound lane, where it was struck by an oncoming vehicle at 55 miles per hour. Barnett was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report.
Driving the oncoming 2000 Isuzu Trooper was Nevada City resident Kathleen Edwards, who was treated for minor injuries at Redbud community Hospital. Passenger Judy Farmer, 67, of Clearlake Oaks, was taken to Redbud Community Hospital with a fractured pelvis, wrist and forearm, and was later moved to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
A second accident within 1/4 mile happened when Middletown resident Bernardo Mendoza, 53, stopped his 1994 Toyota truck because of traffic from in the first accident. Clearlake resident Billy Hugging, 65, did not see the Toyota stopped far enough in advance and swerved his Ford F-350 truck to his right to avoid a collision, according to CHP officer Adam Garcia.
“He (Huggins) turned sideways and struck the other vehicle from the rear. Following that collision, his vehicle continued and rolled over,” Garcia said. Huggins was towing a utility trailer. The truck and tailer came to rest blocking both lanes. No injuries were reported in the second collision. CHP officer Mark Crutcher is investigating the incident.
CHP officer Erica Coddington is investigating the cause the fatal collision, according to Garcia. A coroner”s report for Barnett that includes a toxicology screening is expected within a month, Garcia said.
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