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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A pickup traveling at high speed along Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake Monday morning crashed into another vehicle and then a restaurant, resulting in two people being flown out of county for medical care.
The crash occurred at Howard's Grotto, 14732 Lakeshore Drive, at approximately 11:10 a.m., according to radio reports.
Witnesses reported an older model red pickup hauling a load of rocks was traveling at a high rate of speed down Lakeshore Drive, and ran other drivers off the road.
Clearlake Police Lt. Tim Celli said police received calls of an erratic driver speeding down Lakeshore Drive, and dispatched an officer to the area.
Before the officer arrived, Celli said they received reports of the crash.
According to witnesses, the pickup hit another vehicle – reported to be a Jeep Cherokee – and flipped multiple times before hitting the restaurant. Rocks were reported to be all over the roadway, which also was blocked with emergency vehicles.
Additional fire units were dispatched to assist with extricating the occupants of the pickup from the wreckage, reports from the scene indicated.
Two air ambulances were dispatched, with REACH 6 and CalStar 4 responding. Both set down at a landing zone set up at Redbud Park.
Celli said the drivers of each of the vehicles were flown out of county. He said that based on the information he had early Monday afternoon, he was unaware of there being other occupants in the vehicles.
The investigation was still under way shortly before 2:30 p.m., Celli said, with Sgt. Tim Hobbs, the investigating officer, still on scene at that point.
“We have secured evidence,” said Celli, adding that he didn't have the names of the drivers.
Celli anticipated a police report being issued later on Monday.
Howard's Grotto had been closed on Monday, according to a message left on the restaurant's answering machine.
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