Night collision left other driver needing surgery

Pam Allen, 64, Idyllwild, has been charged with three felonies for the March 31 collision with Julia Romero, 17, also of Idyllwild.

Allen was arraigned in Riverside County Superior Court Wednesday, May 17, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A felony settlement conference has been scheduled for June 22.

Two of the charges were for driving under the influence and causing great bodily injury. The third charge was hit and run.

The incident happened about 11:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, on Highway 243. In the initial story about the collision, the Town Crier reported, “According to the CHP report, Allen, while trying to negotiate a right-hand curve, drifted across the double-yellow line into the opposing lane of traffic and crashed head-on into Romero’s vehicle.”

Romero suffered two broken legs and ribs. She needed surgery to repair her legs. Two subsequent Town Crier stories reported on the efforts to raise money for Romero’s surgery at www.gofundme.com/getting-julia-back-on-track.