CLEARLAKE OAKS – An early morning vehicle collision Thursday on Highway 20 west of Cache Creek Bridge outside of Clearlake Oaks injured four including two who sustained major injuries. A 40-minute extrication operation was required.
The collision, which occurred at approximately 5:48 a.m., involved a semi-truck and a Toyota Camry. Falling asleep at the wheel is the suspected cause.
According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) Clear Lake area Gary Kirby, 46, of Santa Rosa was traveling westbound in a 2004 International tractor truck and single axle semi-trailer at a stated speed of 45 mph. Benjamin De Luna, 46, of Lakeport was traveling eastbound at 45 to 50 mph in a 1992 Toyota Camry. Kirby allegedly fell asleep allowing his vehicle to drift into the eastbound lane of traffic.
The CHP said that Kirby was awakened by the centerline rumble strip at which time he noticed De Luna”s oncoming Toyota. “Kirby aggressively applied the brakes of his vehicle and swerved to his right. De Luna swerved to his right in an attempt to avoid striking Kirby”s vehicle,” the CHP stated. “The front section of De Luna”s Toyota struck the left side of Kirby”s semi-trailer.”
The CHP said that the Toyota was driven under the semi-trailer where the front section struck the rear axle assembly of the semi-trailer. The Toyota came to rest on its wheels within the eastbound lane of traffic facing in a northerly direction.
Medical response was rendered by Northshore Fire Protection District (NFPD), which responded with two Advance Life Support (ALS) medics, two engine companies, a rescue unit and a battalion chief. Mutual aid was provided by Lake County Fire Protection District, which responded with one ALS medic and a rescue company. A total of 14 personnel tended to the collision.
According to NFPD Battalion Chief Pat Brown a 40-minute extrication operation was required. “The vehicle roof and doors had to be removed. The car dash compressed on the driver and the front seat passenger and had to be raised to extricate the patients,” he said. “Multiple extrication tools were used by fire personnel. Two helicopters landed near the accident scene to transport the victims.”
De Luna and his wife Beatrice De Luna, 45, of Lakeport, were extricated from the Toyota and airlifted from the scene. One was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital via REACH while the other was flown by Enloe to Enloe Hospital in Chico.
Carlos De Luna, 21, of Lakeport and Daniel De Luna, 14, of Lakeport sustained minor injuries in the collision and were transported by NFPD to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
