LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Sacramento man suffered major injuries on Thursday when his car was hit head-on by a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy who lost control of his patrol vehicle.
The California Highway Patrol said 28-year-old Marc Loberg and Deputy Richard Kreutzer were injured in the crash, which occurred at approximately 10:32 a.m. east of Lucerne.
The CHP said Kreutzer was driving his patrol vehicle – a Ford Crown Victoria – westbound west of Bruner Drive at approximately 30 miles per hour while on routine patrol.
Kreutzer was following a tractor trailer that ended up pulling over to let westbound traffic pass, the CHP said.
After the big rig pulled over, Kreutzer began to pass it to the left, and as he turned his patrol vehicle to the right – toward his original lane position – he lost control of his vehicle, according to the CHP report.
Kreutzer turned his vehicle back to the left in an attempt to regain control of the patrol vehicle. However, the CHP said the deputy's vehicle continued traveling out of control and crossed the double yellow lines.
The CHP said Kreutzer collided head-on with Loberg, who was driving a 2002 Honda Accord eastbound at 55 miles per hour.
Kreutzer's and Loberg's vehicles came to rest in the lanes of the highway, which was closed for approximately 55 minutes, the CHP said.
Loberg suffered major injuries, including a broken left arm, and complaints of pain to his hip, chest and ankle, the CHP said. Kreutzer had a minor injury in the form of a laceration to his forehead.
Northshore Fire Protection District personnel originally had requested two air ambulances come to the scene to transport the men. However, it later was decided to transport them by ground ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, according to radio reports.
The CHP said both Loberg and Kreutzer were wearing their seat belts.
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Sacramento man suffers major injuries in Thursday crash with local sheriff’s deputy
- Elizabeth Larson
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