LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A four-vehicle wreck near Lower Lake on Thursday injured three people, one of them seriously when he got out of his vehicle and was hit by a car.
The pileup occurred on Highway 53 south of Anderson Ranch Parkway just before 1 p.m. Thursday, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.
The CHP said Michael Koroma, 58, of Ukiah stopped his 2006 Mitsubishi Montero within the northbound No. 1 lane of Highway 53, south of Anderson Ranch Parkway, with traffic conditions at the time reported to be moderate.
Kayla Farr, 24, of Hidden Valley Lake was driving a 2012 Ford Fusion northbound on Highway 53 in the No. 1 lane, south of Koroma, and she was behind a large vehicle which blocked her view ahead, the CHP said.
The CHP report said the driver of this larger vehicle ahead of Farr noticed Koroma’s vehicle stopped in the lane and abruptly swerved to the right and avoided a rear-end collision. As a result, once Farr was able to see Koroma’s vehicle, she had a split second to react. She applied the brakes in an effort to avoid rear-ending the stopped vehicle.
Tricia Snider, 48, of Hidden Valley Lake was driving a 2009 Ford Focus and was directly behind Farr’s vehicle. The CHP said Snider was unable to react to the changing traffic conditions ahead and hit the rear of Farr’s vehicle. Farr’s car was pushed to the left from this impact and went along the left side of Koroma’s vehicle.
At the same time, Koroma had exited his vehicle and was standing in Farr’s path of travel. The CHP said Farr’s vehicle hit Koroma as it passed by.
Snider’s vehicle also continued forward and hit the rear of Koroma’s vehicle, the CHP said.
Charleen Long, 33, of Lower Lake was driving the fourth vehicle involved, a 2012 Ford Focus and was directly behind Snider. The CHP said Long was also unable to react and hit the rear of Snider’s vehicle.
Due to Koroma’s major injuries, he was airlifted by REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the CHP said.
Farr and Long both had minor injuries, and the CHP said Snider was uninjured. All three were wearing their seat belts.
The CHP said the northbound lanes of Highway 53 were closed for approximately one hour due to the significant cleanup effort.
Neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to be factors in this crash, the CHP said.
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Four-vehicle Lower Lake wreck injures three; one man hit by car
- Elizabeth Larson
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