Lake County >> Alcohol appears to have played a role in two Saturday vehicle crashes, one of which resulted in a fatality.
The driver in the deadly crash, 57, was heading eastbound on Lakeshore Boulevard near Collier Avenue in Nice shortly before 2 p.m. His 2004 Ford F150 crossed into the westbound lane and traveled off the north road edge, California Highway Patrol(CHP) officer Erich Paarsch reported. The truck, traveling at an unknown speed, struck two parked vehicles and continued north until stopping against a walnut tree. It also appears that the driver, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was not wearing a seat belt.
Upon arrival, medical personnel found the driver unconscious and unresponsive, Paarsch stated. Life-saving efforts were made, and the driver was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries at 2:34 p.m.
There was no passenger. No other people were reported hurt in the incident.
The second event occurred in Lakeport at about 7:30 p.m. when a man, who authorities say had a blood alcohol level two times above the legal limit, collided with an SUV.
Parked at the intersection of North Brush Street and 11th Street, Scott Thomas Imrie, 39, pulled out in front Doreen McGuire-Grigg who was traveling eastbound on 11th Street at the posted speed limit. McGuire-Grigg, driving a Dodge Durango, did not have time to brake or avoid Imrie and hit his car on the driver’s side, according the Lakeport Police Department (LPD).
The impact sent Imrie’s 2014 Volkswagen Jetta across the eastbound lane and up onto the property of 370 11th St. where it stopped against the front porch of the home, LPD reported in a media statement.
Personnel from Lakeport fire department evaluated both Imrie and McGuire-Grigg, who complained of a minor injury at the scene.
LPD officers also found Imrie, of Hidden Valley Lake, to be on active California Department of Corrections parole out of Lake County.
Imrie was arrested after the collision investigation showed him to be at fault. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood alcohol level greater that .08 percent, causing injury and violation of parole. He is being held at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility on a no-bail hold.
During the investigation and traffic control, another minor traffic collision occurred in the same area with minor vehicle damage only, LPD stated. Both drivers exchanged information with the help of officers and were released.
“The Lakeport Police Department would like to remind driver’s that driving under the influence is strictly enforced with zero tolerance,” its release stated. “In addition, we would like to remind driver’s to be alert, especially in construction zones and collision sites and always follow the directions of traffic control devices and emergency responders.”
