LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol said a major injury crash involving four vehicles on Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks on Saturday sent several people to the hospital and led to one man being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Stephen Williams, 37, of Pacifica was arrested following the crash, which took place at 4:10 p.m. Saturday on Highway 20 east of Sulphur Bank Drive, according to a Monday report from the CHP’s Clear Lake Area office.
The CHP said Williams was driving a blue 2004 Toyota Highlander westbound on Highway 20, approaching Sulphur Bank Drive at a high rate of speed.
Randall Wilk, 61, of Oakland was driving a blue 2015 Toyota Prius westbound, directly in front of Williams' Toyota Highlander, while Kristi Crume, 34, of Grass Valley, was driving a silver 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee eastbound, followed by 70-year-old Kenneth Tomatis of Modesto, who was driving a white 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe, the CHP said.
For reasons that the CHP said are still under investigation, Williams' Toyota Highlander collided with the rear of Wilk’s Toyota Prius, causing Wilk to lose control of the Prius.
Williams’ Toyota Highlander continued in a westerly direction and collided head-on with Crume’s Jeep Grand Cherokee, with the Toyota then continuing in a westerly direction and colliding head-on with Tomatis’ Hyundai Santa Fe, the CHP said.
The CHP said Williams suffered major injuries as a result of the collision and was subsequently arrested by Clear Lake CHP officers, who observed signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication.
Williams was flown by air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the CHP said.
Crume had major injuries and was flown to UC Davis Medical Center for treatment, along with two young children, girls ages 1 and 2, who were with her and who had minor injuries, the CHP said.
Wilk had minor injuries and Tomatis was not reported to be injured, with neither transported, the CHP said.
All six of the individuals in the four vehicles were using their safety equipment, the CHP said.
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