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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Friday afternoon crash involving a big rig sent a load of logs into Clear Lake.
The crash occurred at 1:35 p.m. Friday, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Kory Reynolds.
Richard Panopulos, 51, of Orland, was driving a 2002 Freightliner with a load of logs eastbound on Highway 20 near Hillside Lane in Clearlake Oaks when he attempted to negotiate a right curve in the roadway, Reynolds said.
As Panopulos was going through the curve his load shifted, causing the trailer to overturn, Reynolds said. As the trailer overturned the truck also overturned onto its right side.
Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Steve Hart was on the scene along with firefighters.
“The load of logs went into the lake,” Hart said.
Hart said there was a small hazmat as a result of the crash, with some oil, antifreeze and about two gallons of fuel spilled. The small spills were contained on the lakeshore, he said.
The California Department of Fish and Game also responded to the scene due to the hazmat situation, the CHP reported.
Panopulos suffered minor injuries and was released at the scene, according to Hart.
Reynolds said traffic control had been in place on Highway 20 while firefighters and officers worked at the scene.
Tow trucks uprighted the truck and removed it, and the scene was cleared by 6 p.m., with Highway 20 fully reopened, Hart said.
CHP Officer Nick Powell is investigating the collision, Reynolds said.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LUCERNE, Calif. – A Clearlake man who allegedly fled the scene of a Thursday evening crash in which his passenger was injured has been arrested.
Xavier Pina, 37, was arrested on felony charges of driving under the influence, hit and run causing injury and fleeing the scene of a collision, according to Officer Kory Reynolds of the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office.
At 6:50 p.m. Thursday Pina was driving his 2006 Chevrolet Colorado pickup eastbound on Highway 20 near Foothill Drive in Lucerne at an undetermined speed when, for unknown reasons, Pina lost control of his vehicle, which overturned, Reynolds said.
The vehicle came to rest on its side in the eastbound lane, blocking traffic, according to Reynolds.
Pina’s passenger, John Talavera, 55, of Lower Lake was located at the scene and was transported by REACH to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries including a fractured neck, major internal injuries and a severed right index finger, Reynolds said.
Reynolds said Pina fled the scene on foot and was located near the east end of Lucerne.
Pina was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital and was treated for lacerations and a possible fractured left collar bone, Reynolds said.
Reynolds said Pina later was arrested and booked at the Lake County Jail. Jail records showed he was arrested at 2:20 a.m. Friday and booked just after 6 a.m.
Pina's bail has been set at $50,000, according to jail records.
At the crash scene one-way traffic control was in effect until approximately 11:40 p.m. Thursday, Reynolds said.
Northshore Fire Protection District and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene, Reynolds said.
The collision is still under investigation by Officer Steven Patrick.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Spring is a good time to add a new pet to your family, especially if you're looking for a fun companion to share the outdoors.
Just such a dog is Dynamite, a 5-year-old female German Shepherd.
She weighs 89 pounds, has been spayed, and has a short brown and black coat.
Dynamite is athletic, loves to play and is very friendly. She's believed to be a purebred, but did not come with papers.
She is in kennel No. 4, ID No. 32513.
Also featured today is a charming 2-year-old female tabby.
The domestic short hair mix is spayed, has gray tabby coloring and weighs 7 pounds.
She is friendly and sociable and would make a great pet.
She is in cat room kennel No. 16, ID No. 32431.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has released an update on the bovine spongiform encephalopathy – or mad cow disease – detection announced earlier this week.
On April 24, USDA confirmed the nation’s fourth case of BSE in an animal that was sampled for the disease at a rendering facility in central California.
This animal was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a risk to the food supply, or to human health in the United States, the agency said.
As a result of USDA’s ongoing epidemiological investigation, more information about the history and age of the animal is now available.
The animal in question was 10 years and 7 months old and came from a dairy farm in Tulare County, Calif.
The animal was humanely euthanized after it developed lameness and became recumbent. The animal’s carcass will be destroyed.
The agency said it is important to reiterate that this animal was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, did not enter food supply channels and at no time presented any risk to human health.
USDA is continuing its epidemiological investigation and will provide additional information as it is available.
The positive animal was tested as part of targeted BSE surveillance at rendering facilities.
Samples were sent to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory for testing and forwarded to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories on April 20h for confirmatory testing. APHIS announced the confirmed positive finding April 24.
The United States has a longstanding system of three interlocking safeguards against BSE that protects public and animal health in the United States, the most important of which is the removal of specified risk materials – or the parts of an animal that would contain BSE should an animal have the disease – from all animals presented for slaughter in the United States.
The second safeguard is a strong feed ban that protects cattle from the disease.
The third safeguard – which led to this detection – is the ongoing BSE surveillance program that allows USDA to detect the disease if it exists at very low levels in the U.S. cattle population and provides assurances to consumers and international trading partners that the interlocking system of safeguards in place to prevent BSE are working.