LUCERNE ? A Thursday head-on collision on Highway 20 and Thirteenth Street in Lucerne sent both drivers to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital by helicopter and five passengers to Sutter Lakeside by ambulance.
Clearlake Oaks resident Sue Ellen Sannes, 62, was seen by a witness driving her 1986 Honda Civic west in the center turn lane of Highway 20 for approximately a quarter-mile before the collision, according to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Bill Holcomb, who was at the scene. Sannes veered into oncoming traffic where the road curved slightly right, according to CHP officer Steven Tanguay.
“I don”t know about alcohol, but prescription drugs ? she was on a lot of them,” Holcomb said.
Sannes collided head-on with a 2003 Chevrolet Astro van driven by Herald resident Bryan Voyles, 39. Voyles” wife and four children, ages 4 to 13, were passengers, and were all taken by ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital with complaints of pain, according to Holcomb.
“Sannes was arrested on a felony charge of DUI, driving under the influence of prescription medications. Due to the extent of her injuries, she can”t be booked at this time, so we”ll be filling a report with the (Lake County) District Attorney”s Office,” Tanguay said.
Bryan Voyles was flown by CALSTAR helicopter to University of California, Davis Medical Center with moderate to major injuries and a complaint of abdominal pain, according to Holcomb.
Tanguay said Sannes was flown by REACH helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries, including broken ankles and legs. He said Sannes was pinned inside her car and had to be extricated.
The Chevrolet van”s contents were strewn on the roadway in front of Tower Mart, where more than 30 bystanders watched emergency responders clean up at the scene. They included a cooler full of food, lawn chairs, sleeping bags and six bicycles mounted on the van”s bicycle rack.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
