Clearlake man dies from injuries in September crash

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CLEARLAKE – Nearly a month after receiving major injuries in a traffic collision a local man has died.


Everette Weller, 65, of Clearlake died on Sept. 27 at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Garcia.


Garcia had no information about the precise cause of Weller's death.


Weller was injured on the afternoon of Sept. 1 near Kelseyville when his motorcycle collided first with a BMW and then a Ford Ranger that were stopped on Highway 29, which was closed due to another vehicle collision, as Lake County News has reported.


Despite Weller's attempts to avoid the crash, he was unable to stop his motorcycle in time. The collision caused Weller to be thrown from his 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle and onto the pavement, according to the initial CHP report.


Garcia said the cause of Weller's crash was determined to be “unsafe speed for roadway conditions.”


However, Middletown resident Wendell Langford – who, along with three family members, witnessed Weller's crash – faulted CHP for not putting out flares or having traffic control in place after the first collision.


“He didn't have a chance and a prayer,” said Langford, who insisted that Weller couldn't have seen the stopped traffic around a curve in the road.


Langford said he warned authorities on scene about his concerns about traffic control before Weller was involved in the crash. He said it was later that he witnessed a sheriff's deputy controlling traffic.


He said Weller was wearing a skull cap helmet, not a full helmet, and that he saw the injured man had sustained major head trauma.


Langford also approached CHP's local commander, Lt. Mark Loveless, about the incident, as well as CHP's Sacramento office.


Garcia said Loveless is reviewing the investigation into Weller's crash, as well as the allegations regarding traffic control.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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