CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Monday two men were injured in a two-vehicle crash in Clearlake that included one of the vehicles hitting a restaurant.

Joe Cook, 26, of Kentucky and 49-year-old Clearlake resident Edward Gonzales were injured in the crash, according to a report from Clearlake Police Officer Tim Hobbs.

On Monday night, Gonzales was in the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital intensive care unit listed in critical condition, Hobbs said.

At 11:10 a.m. the Clearlake Police Department received several reports of a red pickup truck driving recklessly at a high rate of speed on Lakeshore Drive, Hobbs said. At the time of the call the truck was reported to be in the area of Lakeshore Drive near Howard Avenue.

Approximately two minutes later, as officers were arriving in the area of Lakeshore Drive and Howard Avenue, there were several reports of a red pickup truck being involved in a collision on Lakeshore Drive in front of Howard's Grotto, Hobbs said.

Hobbs said officers responded to that location and located a red Chevrolet S10 in the driveway portion of Howard’s Grotto. The vehicle had sustained major damage and was occupied by one person, who was identified as Cook.

The second vehicle involved in the initial collision, a red Jeep Cherokee, was located on Lakeshore Drive in front of Howard's Grotto. Hobbs said the Jeep also sustained major damage and was occupied by one subject identified as Gonzales.

A Ford Explorer that was parked in the Notts Liquors parking lot to the south of Howard's Grotto sustained moderate damage from three large rocks that had been ejected from the bed of the Chevrolet S10, Hobbs said.

Due to the extensive damage to the Chevrolet pickup and the Jeep Cherokee, both Cook and Gonzales had to be extricated from their vehicles by personnel from the Lake County Fire Protection District, according to Hobbs.

Once extricated from their vehicles, both men were transported to Redbud Park to be transported by air ambulances from REACH and CalStar to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Hobbs said.

Cook sustained numerous rib fractures, dislocated toes and a mild head injury. Gonzales sustained serious head injuries including a large nasal fracture, Hobbs said.

Hobbs said Lakeshore Drive was closed until 2:30 p.m. while officers investigated the collision.

Based on the preliminary investigation, Hobbs said it appears Cook was driving eastbound on Lakeshore Drive at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the Chevrolet and traveled into the westbound lane of traffic.

The Chevrolet struck the Jeep – driven by Gonzales – that was traveling in the westbound lane. After colliding with the Jeep the Chevrolet traveled off the road and crashed into the front of Howard’s Grotto restaurant, Hobbs said.

According to a message on the restaurant's answering machine, it had been closed on Monday.

Anyone that witnessed the actual collision is asked to contact Officer Mike Carpenter at 707-994-8251, Extension 542.