Three traffic collisions, two with injuries, were reported last week on the Hill.
At 2:10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, Joseph Ruiz, 26, of Heber, claimed a coyote ran in front of his green 2009 Toyota Corolla when he was traveling westbound on Highway 74 near Mile Marker 76, causing him to swerve his vehicle, losing control and overturning. The solo crash caused damage not only to his vehicle, but to a barbed wire fence, according to California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Darren Meyer.
Meyer said CHP could not confirm a coyote was involved so Ruiz was cited at fault for an unsafe turning movement. Ruiz was alone in the vehicle and suffered no injuries. The vehicle was towed.
On Saturday, a 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle crashed on Highway 74 near Apple Canyon Road resulting in one injury. At 12:12 p.m., Sean Schoeppner, 51, of Riverside, was riding westbound with a passenger, Tamara Guy, 50, also of Riverside. The roadway was wet, Meyer said, and Schoeppner was traveling at an unsafe speed approaching a left-hand curve when the front tire lost traction. He was unable to negotiate the curve and ran off the road.
American Medical Response transported Guy to Inland Valley Medical Center complaining of pain. Schoeppner was not injured. Idyllwild Garage towed the motorcycle.
The same day at 4:48 p.m., Hannah Musgrave, 18, of Escondido, was traveling south on Highway 243 near Saunders Meadow Road in a black 2007 Jeep Wrangler, said Meyer. Behind her was a gray 2001 Toyota Camry driven by Michelle Johnson, 56, of Idyllwild.
Musgrave attempted to make either a U-turn or a left-hand turn when the Camry ran into the rear of her vehicle. Meyer said Johnson was driving at an unsafe speed.
AMR transported Musgrave to Desert Regional Medical Center for a non-life-threatening head injury. Meyer had no further information on this incident as it was still under investigation.
Very poor writing! Michelle was past the end of the 35 zone, heading out of town…she wasn’t speeding, and it wasn’t her fault….the dumb 18 year old, flipped a u turn on the highway, across the double yellow line….right in front of Michelle…..who had no place to go…..there isn’t even a police report yet, so it’s premature for you to post anything at all to imply that she was driving at an unsafe speed…..she wasn’t even doing the speed limit….which in that area, is 55…so I’m calling bull on this story!
Becky:
I’m sorry you are upset with the story. The information came from CHP PIO Darren Meyer. You are welcome to call him yourself to verify the report he gave me.