Distracted driving sends three to the hospital

The California Highway Patrol is reminding people to be extra careful this holiday weekend, following a distracted driving incident this morning on Highway 89 north of Clio. The CHP, Plumas County Sheriff and first responders were on the scene of the two-vehicle collision that sent three people to Renown Medical Center in Reno with serious injuries.

According to CHP Officer Reed Mason, who was on the scene of today’s collision, a Placer County resident was driving a white Chevy Equinox northbound on Highway 89. The female driver, who was in her 50s and the only occupant of that vehicle, said that she was adjusting her radio when her vehicle went into the opposing lane and then into the embankment. In trying to return her vehicle to the proper lane, she struck a Red Chevy Tahoe that was southbound on Highway 89 with two occupants, who were in their early 70s. The vehicles hit head on and then both spun around.

Officer Mason said that all three individuals had to be extricated from their vehicles. The passenger in the Tahoe was airlifted to Renown, while the other two injured individuals were transported by ambulance.

Mason said that this is the first major collision of the holiday weekend, and CHP officers will be out in force today. Eight to nine officers are scheduled to be on duty in the Graeagle area tonight as the annual fireworks display always draws a large crowd to the area.