MIDDLETOWN — A collision involving a motorcycle sent one to the hospital Monday evening. Joshua Terry, 30, of Hidden Valley Lake suffered major injuries in the collision; however his injuries were reportedly not life threatening.
The accident occurred around 6 p.m. Monday night between Middletown and Twin Pines Casino. Terry was riding a 1991 Suzuki sport motorcycle northbound on Highway 29, north of Dry Creek Cut-Off. According to the press release issued by the Clear Lake area Highway Patrol, Terry apparently had not noticed that traffic had come to a stop in front of him.
Officer Adam Garcia, who prepared the report, said that traffic had come to a stop to allow a vehicle to make a turn from the highway.
Terry reportedly struck the rear of a 2003 VW Golf driven by Ivonne Robertson, 69, of Clearlake Oaks. The impact caused Terry to be ejected from his motorcycle causing major, but non-life threatening injuries.
Terry was transported via REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. No other injuries were reported as a result of the collision.
The CHP would like to remind the public to maintain a high visual horizon. “This means keep your eyes up and looking down the road,” Garcia states in the report. “Many drivers focus on the road only five or eight seconds ahead. You should be looking about 15 to 20 seconds ahead of your vehicle; farther if you can.”
According to Garcia, expanding your visual horizon gives you the time to recognize and avoid most potential hazards before they become a problem. “You”ll see lane restrictions or construction areas, traffic congestion, truck entrances, mishaps, etc.,” Garcia states. “Keeping your eyes focused far down the road (instead of just past the end of the hood) creates more reaction time for hazards.”
Officer Efrain Cortez is investigating Monday”s incident.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
