- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Big rig, Jeep crash on Highway 20 early Monday results in injuries, traffic control
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A head-on collision between a Jeep Cherokee and a big rig early Monday morning seriously injured one driver and led to hours of traffic control along Highway 20.
The crash occurred on a curve along Highway 20 near Highway 16 – less than two miles from the Lake and Colusa County border – at 4:50 a.m. Monday, according to Sgt. Pete Montez of the Williams office of the California Highway Patrol.
Jesus Aguilar, 19, of Cloverdale, was driving a Jeep Cherokee eastbound on Highway 20 when he collided with a three-axle Kenworth semi driven westbound by 38-year-old Seth Gallaty of Red Bluff, Montez said.
Montez said Aguilar told officers that he thought he fell asleep. The next thing he remembered was the sound of the big rig horn.
Aguilar’s Jeep collided head-on in the westbound lane with the big rig Gallaty was driving, which was pulling a two-axle flatbed loaded with lumber, Montez said.
The Jeep came to rest in the westbound lane, while the Kenworth went off the south shoulder and hit an embankment, according to Montez.
After the big rig hit the embankment, the cab caught fire, Montez said.
Gallaty was able to escape the semi uninjured, Montez said. Aguilar’s leg was broken and he was lifeflighted to Enloe Hospital in Chico.
“We were real lucky all the way around with that crash,” said Montez, noting that the outcome had the potential to be far worse.
The highway was totally blocked for a short time. Montez said they then pushed Aguilar’s vehicle out of the road to get one-way traffic going.
He said Caltrans took over traffic control not long after the collision.
Eastbound traffic on Highway 20 at Highway 53 near Clearlake Oaks was blocked briefly until one-way traffic control around the crash scene was put in place, Montez said.
Montez said both lanes of traffic on Highway 20 at Highway 16 were expected to reopen between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Monday.
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