LUCERNE, Calif. – A woman died Thursday afternoon from injuries she sustained when her vehicle went off Highway 20, hitting a mobile home and other nearby structures.
The crash occurred just after 3:15 p.m. at the Sandy Beach Trailer Lodge, located at 5800 Highway 20.
Witnesses said a dark sedan was heading westbound when it went off the highway, jumped a ditch, and hit at least two trees before crashing into the back of a singlewide mobile home, a shed and a travel trailer.
Several CHP officers, as well as Clear Lake Area Commander Lt. Hector Paredes, were on scene early in the evening conducting the investigation, which included speaking to witnesses, taking measurements on the pavement, and working to identify the driver. Sheriff's deputies also were present to assist in the investigation.
Nearby, Northshore Fire and Cal Fire personnel worked to extricate the driver from the car, which remained pinned between the mobile home, the shed and the travel trailer next door, its lights still blinking.
Firefighters sawed off branches from a damaged tree and cut the top of the car roof off.
Park resident Jerry McAllister didn't see the crash, however, “I heard the screeching” as the vehicle hit the structures.
He added, “I've been here 14 years and I've never seen anything like this.”
Ray Hechim, who has lived at the trailer park for a little over six years, was standing in his kitchen when the vehicle hit the back end of his mobile home, where his bedroom is located.
“It was a big bang,” Hechim said, explaining that he initially thought the wind had knocked over a tree.
The impact knocked items off shelves, pushed over his record collection and left his bedroom closet doors hanging askew. However, Hechim said the mobile home remains habitable.
The crash caused one of the vehicle's wheels to fly off, with Hechim pointing to it lying in one of his flowerbeds at the back of the mobile home. His back porch canopy also collapsed after the car hit it.
Noting that the park is often more crowded than it was when the crash occurred, Hechim said he was glad no one else was hurt.
Caltrans assisted with control traffic around the scene while the CHP continued its investigation.
A full CHP report is expected later Thursday night.
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