According to investigating Officer Mike LeMasters, Gregory Branson, 52 and of Angels Camp was driving a septic concrete hauling tank truck which had two tanks and a 10 foot boom extension crane in the rear. The vehicle was eastbound on Hwy. 88 while Timothy Gaston, 56 and of Roseville had been driving a big rig behind the hauling truck. LeMasters’ report indicates that Branson had slowed his vehicle and turned on the signal to make a right run into a driveway, and while he was slowing and completing the turn the 10 foot boom crane was still extending into the roadway. Gaston failed to slow and continued eastbound unaware of the crane. His vehicle caught the crane causing the big rig to roll over on its left side. Gaston stated that he didn’t’ see the boom, extending into the roadway as the red flag on the end of the boom was faded. Neither Gaston nor Branson were injured in the accident.
Later that afternoon around 4:15pm an accident occurred sending a woman to the hospital. Officer Brian Hagemann’s report indicates, Shelly Crabb, 40 and of Ione was driving a 1978 Jeep northbound on Jackson Valley Road at 40-45mph when she realized there was a sharp right hand curve in the roadway ahead. Crabb applied her brakes but was unable to slow enough to safely negotiate the curve in the roadway. The Jeep ran off the roadway edge and overturned. Crabb was not wearing her seatbelt and she was ejected from the vehicle and suffered moderate injuries.
A similar accident occurred at just over an hour later at 5:48 when 37 year old Frank Alvarez of Pine Grove entered a curve in the roadway while traveling eastbound on Hwy. 88 west of Prevetali Road at 50-55 mph. Investigating Officer Hagemann said Alvarez failed to slow for the curve and began to lose control of his 1998 motorcycle as he exited the curve causing the vehicle to fall onto its left side and slid along the eastbound lane. Alvarez was ejected but suffered only minor injuries.
Another motorcycle accident occurred on Saturday at 10:50 am. Johnny Xaysana, 25 and of Modesto was driving his 2005 Yamaha westbound on Sutter Creek Ione Road east of Sutter Creek Ranchos Road. Officer Frank Peixoto’s report states Xaysana was operating his motorcycle at excessive and unsafe speeds, approaching a right curve. As a direct result of his unsafe speed, Xaysana slid across both lanes and off the roadway. Both the rider and motorcycle collided with a dirt embankment. The man suffered moderate injuries with a fracture and abrasions and was transported to SAH. Peixoto said Xaysana was wearing a DOT approved helmet which prevented life threatening injuries.
On Sunday a vehicle vs. motorcycle accident occurred at the intersection of New York Ranch Rd and Ridge Rd. The driver that caused the accident, the driver of the car, fled the scene. The early morning accident occurred at 6:20 am when a driver of a 2001 Pontiac Trans Am, with a passenger,r was traveling east bound on Ridge Road at 45 mph. Terry Griffith, 42 and of Ione was traveling north bound on New York Ranch Road and stopped at the stop sign on his 2007 Suzuki motorcycle. The driver of the Pontiac failed to see the approaching motorcycle and entered the intersection to make a left hand turn causing the vehicle to collide with Griffith’s Suzuki. The driver then fled the scene and Griffith suffered thankfully suffered only minor injuries.
The most serious accident to occur over the weekend was the accident that we told you about yesterday that sent a Folsom man to Mercy San Juan Hospital with major head injuries. 62 year old James Black entered a curve too fast causing his vehicle to overturn and eject him on Sutter Creek Volcano Road. Black sustained major head trauma below the helmet line and was found by a passer by unconscious and bleeding on the roadway. He was transported to Mercy San Juan’s trauma center because of his severe head injuries.
