Four Loyalton residents injured in single-vehicle crash
Four Loyalton residents were injured in a single vehicle accident Thursday, Dec. 10, at 11:36 a.m. in the Feather River Canyon.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Raymond McGarity was driving his 2015 red Ram 1500 pickup westbound on Highway 70 just west of Maggie’s Maple Leaf (Little Indian Creek) at a stated speed of 55 to 60 mph.
McGarity allowed the right side tires of the truck to drift off the roadway onto the north shoulder. The right side tires then entered a ditch and he felt the truck pull further to the right. McGarity said he was afraid to steer the truck sharply to the left because he did not want to lose control of it and wind up in the Rock Creek Reservoir, so he decided to let the vehicle stop on its own. The truck struck numerous rocks in the ditch and two small trees on the mountainside north of the ditch before it came to a stop. During these impacts, the side curtain airbags deployed.
The truck came to a stop facing west with its right side in the ditch and its left side just over the north white edge line of Highway 70, partially blocking the westbound lane. McGarity exited the truck, but his three passengers waited for emergency personnel to arrive and get them out.
McGarity and his passengers Myra McGarity, 78, William Eisner,70, and Cindy Scott, 61, were all transported to Enloe Medical Center with minor injuries, except for Myra who suffered major injuries. The CHP officer on scene said that all individuals were wearing their seatbelts which saved them from more serious injuries.
