According to California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Ladd’s report Amador County Sheriff Deputy John Silva made a traffic stop on westbound 88 just west of the intersection of Hwy. 88 and Mormon Emigrant Trail in a wide shoulder off of the roadway. The roadway was covered in snow and ice and chain controls were in effect according to the Ladd’s report. Sheri Saulque of Wellington Nevada was west bound in her 2001 Chevy Tahoe approaching the Mormon Emigrant Trial. She lost control of her Chevy due to the snow on the roadway and the lack of chains on her vehicle. Saulique slid out of control towards the rear of Amador County Sheriff’s Office vehicle where Deputy Silva was standing. The two vehicles behind the Tahoe immediately began honking their horns to warn the Deputy of the impending danger. At the last second Deputy Silva jumped clear just prior to the Tahoe impacting the left rear of the ACSO vehicle.

No persons were injured in the accident, although Under Sheriff Karl Knobelauch reminds us that that situation could have been much different. “Deputy Silva had been walking between the front of the truck and the vehicle that was stopped in front of him just a split second before the impact… If John had not heard the warning and jumped out of the way he would have been crushed between the vehicles.” He continued by saying, “This accident was completely preventable.  The woman that ran into the Sheriff's truck was driving in violation of the law.  She had no chains in a chain control area.  It is not a matter of not putting them on, she didn't have them.  Her vehicle was two wheel drive.  Her tires were illegal, even on a day of clean dry pavement.  She simply should not have been in the mountains at all.  Due to her willful violation of law and negligence she could easily have caused injuries or fatalities.  Her actions were as blatant as firing a gun into a crowd.  She was driving a two thousand pound out of control bullet.  The only question is whether or not it was going to hit anyone.”

The rash of Accidents continued through out yesterday morning on the wet roadways.  At 6:12 am an accident was reported on Curran Rd near Camanche Road in the Camanche area. The accident was a solo vehicle non injury accident.

Then at 7:42 an accident was reported at Hwy 88 and Pine Grove Volcano Rd in Pine Grove. At 8:21 an injury accident was reported on Latrobe Rd. near the El Dorado County line when a driver lost control of their vehicle causing it to overturn. This accident required a lengthy extrication of the two people inside the vehicle, although neither the driver nor the passenger was injured.

20 minutes later, around 8:51 am, a similar accident was reported on China Graveyard Rd in Jackson. China Graveyard was closed after the accident, when a single vehicle rolled, blocking the roadway. The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries. The road reopened about 45 minutes later.