Gualala Resident Injured During Dramatic Crash
On Wednesday, February 12, 2020, a man from Gualala suffered injuries requiring hospital care after a dramatic crash that took place in Mendocino County. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the man was partially saved due to the quick actions taken by a 16-year-old driver from the community of Timber Cove. While specific details about the injured man’s condition have not been released, officials indicated that his trauma was not life-threatening.
What Happened?
At around 8:20 a.m., the Timber Cove teenager had been driving to school on a windy stretch of Highway 1 in the area of Fort Ross following a white Mini Cooper. The Mini Cooper reportedly suddenly veered off-road and disappeared over the edge of a steep cliff on the side of the highway.
The teen reported that he was initially stunned, but had recently gone through an emergency response training program with his hometown fire department and pulled over to the side of the highway, exited his vehicle, and began looking for survivors.
The Mini Cooper had overturned and traveled down a deep ravine, landing on its roof around 100 feet below the roadway. The teen, a junior at El Molino High School, was credited by various emergency officials with saving the driver of the Mini Cooper, identified as a 76-year-old Gualala man. With no other crash witnesses or cell phone reception, the teen driver flagged down traffic in order to notify CHP. The teen also pulled the driver of the Mini Cooper out of his vehicle and attended to him until rescuers showed up.
Rescue
Timber Cove Fire Department responders determined that the ravine’s floor was covered in poison oak and that the embankment was too steep to remove the injured man without the use of a helicopter. The man was airlifted using a backboard and basket and was transported to a hospital in Gualala to receive treatment for his injuries.
Investigation
CHP is investigating the accident and has not released a full report on suspected causal factors. Authorities closed off one lane of the highway at the accident scene while a tow truck used a 400-foot long cable to retrieve the damaged Mini Cooper, and investigators checked the area for evidence.
Single-vehicle crashes are common and can be caused by a variety of different factors, many of which can’t be controlled by the drivers involved. These can include things like dangerous roadway design, malfunctioning car parts, and more.
Calling an Attorney
After being in a crash, people are often left with injuries that seriously affect their lives. In many cases, recovering from these injuries can be both difficult and very expensive. Crash survivors frequently worry about how they will be able to afford their medical bills, especially if their injuries have affected their ability to work. To get advice about claiming compensation for these losses, the best thing to do is to reach out to an area injury attorney and talk about your specific situation.
Other Blogs from Fort Bragg Personal Injury Lawyer, Ed Smith
Fort Bragg Personal Injury Lawyer
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