LAKE COUNTY — Two Sonoma County men who crashed and overturned while off-roading about 9:25 p.m. Friday on Bartlett Springs Road had to get a ride from a friend to Walker Ridge Road and Highway 20 to call for help, California Highway Patrol reported.
Driver Michael Larrieu, 22, of Santa Rosa and passenger Matthew Poundstone, 31, of Windsor were both transported by air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for their injuries, Officer Steve Tanguay of CHP said.
Larrieu was driving east on Bartlett Springs Road east of M5 fire road at an unknown speed when he lost control of the vehicle and slid off the north road edge and rolled down an embankment, Tanguay said. Their friend called for help once they found cell phone service.
A REACH air ambulance flew Larrieu to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for serious injuries, Chief Pat Brown of Clearlake Oaks fire said. CALSTAR transported Poundstone to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital as well.
Clearlake Oaks of Northshore fire responded with one medic, one engine and one chief, Brown said. Lake County fire offered one mutual aid medic. CHP, REACH and CALSTAR also responded.
Tanguay said the same rules apply to riding safely while off-roading as they do for driving ? drive a safe enough speed for the conditions of the road.
“Just be smart,” Tanguay said. “Know your limits.”
