LOWER LAKE – A head-on collision that occurred Friday afternoon near Lower Lake left three people injured.

California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Garcia said Kevin Wellmerling, 49, of Clearlake and two teenage girls from Cobb were injured in the two-car collision, which happened shortly after 1 p.m. Friday.

Garcia said a 17-year-old teen, whose name was not released, was driving a 2002 Chevy Suburban southbound on Highway 29 south of A Street near the Twin Lakes community when she lost control of her vehicle and crossed into the northbound lane.

There, she struck Wellmerling’s 1995 Pontiac Grand Am head-on, Garcia reported.

Garcia said it was initially claimed that the juvenile dropped a soda can at her feet and was attempting to retrieve it when the collision occurred.

A 16-year-old female passenger in the Suburban, whose name also was not released, had unbuckled her seatbelt to reach the soda when the collision occurred, he reported.

Garcia said the 17-year-old sustained major injuries and was taken to UC Davis Medical center by CalStar air ambulance.

Wellmerling was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital by CalStar with major injuries and the 16 year-old-passenger was taken to Redbud Community Hospital with minor to moderate injuries by South Lake Fire Protection District's ambulance, Garcia reported.

Due to the collision the roadway was closed for at least an hour in both directions, according to reports from the scene.

Garcia said Officer Robert Hearn is investigating the collision.

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