California Highway Patrol (CHP) Public Information Officer Matt Napier has spent time catching the newspaper up on the traffic collisions that have occurred since May 20. Last week, the newspaper reported collisions from May 20 to June 13. This report includes collisions from June 14 to July 2. However, a couple of collisions are still in review — one from May 30 and another from July 1.
At 11:35 a.m. Wednesday, June 16, Estaban Navarro, 24, of San Jacinto, was driving westbound on Highway 74 1.5 miles west of McGaugh Road at an unknown speed in a 2004 tan Nissan Altima. Two passengers were in the vehicle: Jasper Houston, 21, of Hemet and a minor. On a left-hand turn, Navarro traveled down a declining rock into an embankment, overturned and the vehicle came to rest on its side.
Navarro was transported by Idyllwild Fire for possible minor injuries and complaint of pain. Houston was transported to the county hospital by Idyllwild Fire for minor injuries and the minor was transported by Idyllwild Fire to the county hospital for major injuries.
The Altima was towed by Idyllwild Garage.
At 6 a.m. Saturday, June 19, Omar Pedro Aranda, 45, of Palm Desert, was traveling westbound on Highway 74 300 feet west of Little Thomas Mountain in a black 2002 Chevrolet Suburban at about 55 mph. Jennifer Collard, 36, of Perris, was also in the vehicle. Aranda steered to the left in a right-hand curve, went off the roadway and struck an uneven dirt/grass shoulder. Aranda told CHP he fell asleep.
Collard was transported by Idyllwild Fire for possible injuries.
The Suburban was towed by Idyllwild Garage.
At 10:20 a.m. Sunday, June 20, Rosalie Mary Machuca, 50, of Idyllwild, was driving westbound on Highway 74 0.1 miles east of Butterfly Peak Road in a blue 2014 Toyota Prius at about 40 mph, left the roadway edge, drifted to the right, and collided with a raised concrete drainage culvert.
Machuca possibly had injuries but was not transported.
The Prius was towed by Valley Auto.
At 2:50 p.m. Friday, June 25, Kira Jade Carlson, 22, of Idyllwild, was traveling westbound on Highway 74 2.4 miles west of McCall Park Road at about 45 to 55 mph in a white 1996 Buick Regal as Robert David Strawhecker, 60, of Anza, was also traveling westbound on Highway 74 at about the same speed in a maroon 2017 Ram 1500 in front of Carlson. Both traveled around a right-hand curve when Carlson attempted to pass Strawhecker on the right-hand side in the turnout. Carlson ran out of room and steered to the left. The left side of the Regal collided with the right side of the 1500. Carlson did not stop and Strawhecker requested law enforcement. Carlson was contacted later at her residence. Strawhecker did not want to seek hit and run charges.
Neither vehicle was towed and no injuries were reported.
At 11:25 a.m. Monday, June 28, Jeffrey David Cranston, 40, of Winchester, was traveling southbound on Highway 243 0.3 miles north of Round Robin Drive on a red 2017 Yamaha FZ-09 at a stated speed of 60 mph when he could not negotiate a left curve in the road, traveled to the left side of the road over a descending embankment hitting the hill below. He was ejected from the motorcycle.
Cranston was not transported but the Yamaha was towed by Idyllwild Garage.
At 11:50 p.m. Thursday, July 1, Allen Ralph Sabenorio, 68, of Idyllwild, was traveling northbound on Highway 243 400 feet south of Saunders Meadow Road in a red 2010 Volkswagen Jetta at about 25 mph. Sabenorio approached a large boulder blocking the northbound lane just past a vehicle on the right that slowed and stopped due to the boulder. He failed to stop before colliding with the boulder.
No injuries were reported but the Jetta was towed by Idyllwild Garage.
At 3:22 p.m., Friday, July 2, a collision occurred on Highway 74 4,000 feet west of Santa Rosa Road that involved three people: Bernadette Marie Rodriguez, 36, of Palm Desert; Karin Elaine Vega, 24, of La Quinta and Joshua Allen Bailey, 42, of Escondido. Rodriguez was traveling westbound at about 40 mph in a blue 2016 Ford Fusion ahead of Bailey, who was traveling at 50 mph in a gray 2008 Toyota Tundra. Vega was traveling eastbound in a brown 2017 Kia Sportage at about 50 mph toward Rodriguez.
For unknown reasons, Rodriguez veered from the westbound lane, crossed the double-yellow line into the eastbound lane. The front of the Sportage struck the left rear of Rodriguez. Vega traveled across the lanes into the path of Bailey. The front of the Sportage struck the front left of the Tundra. Bailey traveled off the road and into a fence.
No injuries were reported. No vehicles were towed.