California Accident & Injury Information

JULY 3, 2009 - Six people received minor burns when a fireworks shell landed in a crowd, authorities said. The incident occurred near the finale of the Folsom Rodeo fireworks show, according to the Folsom Fire Department. The victims, which included adults and children, were treated at the scene, officials said. Organizers planned to continue the fireworks show this weekend, but said they will take further precautions to shield the crowd.

JULY 3, 2009 - A 30-year-old man was hospitalized after his sports utility vehicle overturned on Highway 101, authorities said. The unidentified man was driving north at about 70 mph when he lost control of the Isuzu Rodeo just south of the Oregon Expressway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The vehicle veered right about 7:50 p.m. and rolled over at least twice, crashing through a barrier that separates Hwy 101 from East Bayshore Road. Rescuers found the driver trapped in the SUV with his head pinned between the dashboard and the ground. Firefighters used air bags and the Jaws of Life to free the man, who was conscious and talking, and then transferred him to Stanford Hospital, authorities said. He was treated for head injuries and cuts to his arm and back. Authorities said the driver will likely face drunken driving charges when he’s released from the hospital. The CHP is investigating the accident.

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JULY 3, 2009 - A 17-year-old Salinas boy who had escaped from a juvenile detention facility a month ago was injured when his stolen car crashed at the end of a police chase, authorities said. The boy was dragged unconscious from the burning wreckage on Highway 1 and transferred to a San Jose-area trauma center. Authorities said he will be booked on suspicion of auto theft and drunk driving when he’s released from the hospital. Capitola police believe he stole the Dodge Intrepid in Salinas on Tuesday and decided to drive to the beach on Wednesday with an accomplice, 20-year-old Ulises Abraham of Salinas. A Capitola motorcycle officer spotted the car weaving down a street and attempted to pull the vehicle over about 3:45 p.m., police said. The car sped off and led police on a 10-mile chase before clipping a Mercedes and crashing just north of Airport Boulevard. Abraham was arrested and later transported to a hospital for treatment of a hand injury. The driver of the Mercedes was taken to Watsonville Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, authorities said. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

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JULY 3, 2009 - A motorcyclist suffered major injuries after colliding with a deer on Highway 49, authorities said. The accident occurred about 6:36 p.m. in the northbound lanes near Cherry Creek Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. The highway was closed so a medical helicopter could land and transfer the victim to a hospital. The road was reopened at 7:35 p.m. The CHP is investigating the crash.

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JULY 3, 2009 - Two teenage girls were injured when they were struck by a vehicle in a residential neighborhood, authorities said. The 14 and 15-year-old girls were in a crosswalk at the intersection of Tawny Drive and Norton Way when they were hit by a late model Lexus about 7 p.m., according to the Pleasanton Police Department. The girls were flown to a hospital with serious injuries, according to the police. The driver of the Lexus, identified as 43-year-old Sandra Ogolin of Pleasanton, was traveling about 25 mph when she struck the victims, authorities said. Police are investigating the accident, but do not believe alcohol was a factor.

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JULY 2, 2009 – A jury in Cobb County, Georgia awarded a Home Depot shopper and his wife $1.5 million in damages this week after he suffered serious neck and spinal injuries in November 2005. Larry Reece, of Cumming, Georgia, was hurt when a pallet of plywood fell 24 feet off of a forklift. Reece was struck by a barricade that the pallet fell onto, and suffered herniated discs which required surgery. His medical bills were approximately $120,000, and Reece was permanently unable to return to work in the residential construction industry. The jury reached the $1.5 million award after a two-day trial.

JULY 2, 2009 - A 61-year-old bicyclist was injured when he collided with a pickup truck that was turning onto Interstate 80, authorities said. Richard De Glymes of Newcastle was riding east on Clipper Gap Road about 11:42 a.m., when the driver of a 1998 blue Chevy pickup, 54-year-old Christopher Howell of Colfax, turned left onto the on-ramp in front of the bicyclist, according to the California Highway Patrol. De Glymes hit the right side of the truck and was ejected, suffering injuries to his head and body, officials said. De Glymes was transferred to Sutter Roseville Hospital, where he was reported to be in fair condition, authorities said. The CHP is investigating the collision.

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JULY 2, 2009 - A fire captain with the Forest Service in Oroville was critically injured after diving into shallow water near South Yuba River State Park, authorities said. Mark Davis was with a group of friends who had been jumping feet-first into the river near Bridgeport. Davis then dove in head first, witnesses said. They noticed he was floating face down for about a minute, but bystanders thought he was joking. After Davis appeared to have a seizure, he was pulled from the water. Because of the lack of cell service in the area, it took about 20 minutes for a state parks ranger to be notified, witnesses said. Firefighters from Penn Valley’s Lake Wildwood and North San Juan responded to the scene and learned the victim had no feeling or movement from the neck down, said a fire chief with Penn Valley. He was transferred to Sutter Roseville Medical Center. As of Monday, Davis had not regained consciousness, officials said.

JULY 2, 2009 - A 19-year-old woman died 12 days after a car accident that claimed the life of another teenager, authorities said. Gurvinder Chahal of Ceres died from her injuries at a local hospital, according to the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office. Chahal was behind the wheel of a 2006 Dodge Charger that collided with a big rig near the intersection of highways 152 and 156, according to reports. Simardeep Bhatia, 18, of Turlock died at the scene. Another passenger in the Charger, 18-year-old Jasbir Singh of Hughson, suffered major injuries, but is recovering. The accident occurred when the big rig pulled off to the side of the highway to prepare for an illegal U-turn, according to the California Highway Patrol. Chahal, driving at a high rate of speed, slammed into the truck’s trailer, which was blocking the westbound lanes, according to the CHP.

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JULY 2, 2009 - A 28-year-old Yuba City man suffered major injuries in a two-car collision on Highway 20, authorities said. William J. Sanderson was driving west on Hwy 20 in a 1989 Honda Civic shortly before 5 p.m. when another vehicle turned left in front of him at Marysville Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver of the other vehicle, identified as 58-year-old William C. Frandrup of Browns Valley, was heading east on Hwy 20. Sanderson had a possible left shoulder separation and numerous cuts to his head, arms and legs, authorities said. After he was extracted from his vehicle, Sanderson was transferred to Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville. Frandrup declined medical treatment. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. The CHP is investigating the collision.

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