How to resolve AdBlock issue? Joel S. Saldana, 26, was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI at the scene of the crash, which occurred on Highway 29 south of Cruickshank Road near Kelseyville, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.
The other driver in the crash, Jamie Pannyasy-Watts, 35, of Clearlake Oaks, was seriously injured in the wreck, the CHP said.
The CHP said that at 12:57 a.m. Thursday Saldana was driving a 2001 Lexus IS300 northbound on Highway 29, south of Cruickshank Road, while Pannyasy-Watts was driving a 2003 Saturn ION southbound, approaching Saldana.
For reasons that the CHP said are still under investigation, Saldana crossed over the double yellow lines and traveled across the roadway before he hit a dirt embankment on the southbound shoulder.
Saldana’s vehicle overturned and then continued in a northerly direction within the southbound lane, traveling directly into the path of Pannyasy-Watts’ vehicle, resulting in a head-on crash, the CHP said.
The CHP said the two vehicles came to a rest in the southbound lane, with both drivers being trapped within them.
The Kelseyville Fire Protection District and CHP responded and extricated the two drivers, the CHP said.
Radio reports indicated that incident command attempted to secure an air ambulance but weather prevented a helicopter from responding.
Kelseyville Fire ground ambulance transported Pannyasy-Watts to Sutter Lakeside Hospital where she was treated for major injuries, the CHP said.
The CHP said Saldana was arrested and then transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital by Kelseyville Fire for treatment of moderate injuries. He later was released from the hospital.
Both drivers were using their safety equipment, the CHP said.
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