By Halie Johnson and Jenny Kirchner
Alcohol was a factor in a traffic collision Saturday at around 3 a.m. on Lower Pine Crest in Idyllwild.
Three passengers of a 2007 Subaru Forester were transported to local hospitals after the driver, Nathan Dejarnette, 21 of Idyllwild, side-swiped a tree, causing him to lose control and careen down an embankment, running into a carport and hitting the Chevy El Camino parked inside.
California Highway Patrol Officer David Kling did not arrest Dejarnette for driving under the influence, as he passed a field sobriety test. Kling said the car was traveling at about 40 miles per hour. Kling said the passengers had all been drinking.
Ariel Torres, 20 of Idyllwild, who was riding in the front passenger seat, was transported to Hemet Valley Regional Medical Center for treatment of broken bones and lacerations.
David Rogelio, 29 of Ontario, and Ansel Chang, 24 of San Fernando, were transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center. Both men suffered lacerations and Chang was believed to have some broken bones.
A fifth occupant, Timothy Neven, 23 of Montrose, was treated on the scene for a laceration to his head, but was not transported to a hospital for treatment.
Witnesses say several of the car's occupants were belligerent after the crash and were running up and down the street looking for help. One passenger tried to flee the scene on foot, but was chased down by a neighbor. They apparently broke into a vacant home at some point before medics arrived looking for help.