Cars, blocking Fern Valley Road near Humber Park New Year’s Day, were cleared and towed, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Murawski.
Photo by CHP Officer Mike Murawski

The California Highway Patrol, San Gorgonio Pass Station, reported two traffic crashes over the last week.

At 3:25 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, Versie Carpenter, 60, of Hemet, was driving her 2006 blue Nissan Maxima eastbound on Highway 74, 3 ½ miles west of McCall Park Road, when she began to experience a diabetic emergency, according to CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer. As a result of the medical emergency, she crossed the double-yellow lines into the opposing lane of traffic, and the vehicle crashed into the mountain, overturned and came to rest on its wheels. 

Idyllwild Fire responded and gave Carpenter sugar, according to Meyer. Carpenter was not injured, had no passengers in her car and no other vehicles were involved.

At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, Kathy Toms, 58, of Banning, was driving her 2009 blue Toyota Matrix southbound on Highway 243, 1 mile north of Mt. Etna Rd., when, during rain and on a wet roadway, she came around a corner, began to skid and put on the breaks, causing the car to spin out of control. The vehicle crossed into the opposing lane of traffic and went 175 feet over the right embankment. Toms was not injured, had no passengers and no other vehicles were involved in the crash.