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The California Highway Patrol's Ukiah office reported that the three-car collision took place at 3:15 p.m. Monday just east of the buffalo ranch between Blue Lakes and Ukiah.
The CHP did not release the names of any of the three drivers involved.
The report explained that a 57-year-old Sacramento man, driving a 1996 Chevy pickup, was traveling eastbound on Highway 20. Heading westbound at the same time was a 2007 Mercury SUV driven by a 59-year-old Ukiah woman, followed by a 2004 Dodge Neon driven by a 23-year-old Upper Lake man.
The Sacramento man's pickup traveled into the westbound lane, colliding head-on with the Mercury SUV, according to the CHP.
The Upper Lake man was able to brake and turn his vehicle to the left to avoid colliding with the pickup, but was still struck by debris from the collision, the CHP reported.
The CHP's original log entries reported that one of the vehicles caught on fire following the collision.
Rescue personnel were sent both by ambulance and by helicopter, according to the CHP. Animal Control was summoned for a dog riding in one of the vehicles.
CHP reported that officers found the Ukiah woman dead at the scene.
The Sacramento man was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of major injuries, according to CHP.
The Upper Lake driver was uninjured, the CHP added.
According to CHP, all three drivers were using their seat belts.
Traffic didn't start to move until after 5 p.m., according to witness reports. CHP didn't report the roadway completely clear for another hour after that.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH INFORMATION ABOUT BILLINGS AND OFFICER.
CLEARLAKE – An investigation into a Friday crash involving an officer on his way to a call has ruled that the officer was at fault, according to a Monday report.
Lt. Mike Hermann of Clearlake Police reported that the agency concluded its look into the crash, which took place at the intersection of Highway 53 and Lakeshore Drive Friday night. The report also was reviewed by the California Highway Patrol's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team.
The Friday crash involved Det. Richard Towle and 19-year-old Desiree Perez of Kelseyville, as Lake County News first reported over the weekend.
Towle was responding from the area of 40th Avenue with lights and sirens to an emergency call in which an individual was threatening to kill an off-duty police officer, said Hermann.
When Towle came to the intersection at Highway 53 he was hit by Perez, driving southbound on Highway 53 in her Honda Civic, said Hermann.
Sgt. Tim Celli has passed through the intersection ahead of Towle, said Hermann.
Perez and another vehicle traveling towards the intersection had reportedly slowed for Celli's patrol vehicle, but then accelerated again after he cleared the intersection, according to witness statements, Hermann reported.
Because of “natural vision obscurements” at the intersection, Perez and other southbound vehicles were unable to see Towle's patrol vehicle until he actually entered the intersection, according to Hermann.
After seeing each other's vehicle, both drivers attempted to avoid a collision but were unable to, said Hermann. Perez's vehicle struck the passenger side of Towle's patrol car, causing major damage to both vehicles.
Both Towle and Perez were transported to Redbud Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and released, Hermann said.
Hermann reported that, while section 21056 of California Vehicle Code states that the "driver of an emergency vehicle is exempt from the rules of the road while responding to an emergency," it also states that drivers of emergency vehicles need to drive with "due regard" for the safety of all persons using the highway.
The department's investigation concluded that Towle failed to ensure that all cross traffic had come to a stop or that it was clear to enter the intersection against the red light, according to Hermann.
As a result, Hermann said the investigation ruled that Towle was at fault for the collision.
Regarding the reason for the emergency response, Hermann reported that Scott Billings, 24, of Clearlake was arrested for public intoxication.
Billings, who was known to the department, had been making some threats outside the home of Officer Tim Hobbs, said Hermann. It was determined that Billings was too intoxicated to properly care for himself, and he was transported to the Lake County Jail.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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