Friday, 03 May 2024

Wet weather leads to Sunday collisions

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A vehicle went off Highway 20 and landed on a dock near Clearlake Oaks, Calif., on Sunday, October 24, 2010. Photo by Gary McAuley.

 

 

 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A weekend of heavy rains and wet roadways contributed to downed power lines and trees, boulders in roads and collisions throughout the weekend.


On Sunday there were reports of vehicles going off of Highway 20 and, in two cases, vehicles going into the embankment.


During Sunday afternoon, Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters were dispatched to a report of a vehicle in Bear Creek near Upper Lake with the occupant possibly trapped, according to reports from the scene.


Bear Creek, and its recreation area, is located about 23 miles from Upper Lake on Elk Mountain Road.


One battalion chief, one medic unit and two engines responded from Upper Lake and Nice and found a full sized, 1990s model Chevy four-wheel-drive pickup truck in Bear Creek. They did not find the driver, who had gotten out and left the scene.


Firefighters concluded that the driver had attempted to cross in approximately 4 to 5 feet of water, when he lost control and floated several hundred feet downstream before coming to rest against an outcropping of rocks in the creek, officials reported.


Campers in the area stated they witnessed a group of off-road drivers fording the creek, with several being successful, however the last driver was not, according to reports from the scene. The vehicle had been secured to some adjacent trees with ropes before the driver and his party left.


Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Ken Petz said the creek usually runs about 2 feet deep at the crossing, but this storm brought much more.


He said the creek's level should fall some this week, but another storm is expected in the area next weekend, so time is short for anyone to remove the stranded vehicle.


Northshore firefighters were once again on scene later in the day when a vehicle ended up on a dock near Clearlake Oaks after going off Highway 20.


The driver reportedly was headed eastbound shortly before 5:30 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle, spinning 180 degrees and going off the roadway backwards, landing on the dock, based on reports from the scene.


The California Highway Patrol reported that the collision resulted in no injuries to the driver.


Gary McAuley contributed to this report.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

 

 

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Northshore Firefighters worked at the scene of a car that landed on a dock near Clearlake Oaks, Calif., on Sunday, October 24, 2010. No injuries were reported in the crash. Photo by Gary McAuley.
 

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