REDDING: Two hospitalized after three-vehicle collision

REDDING — Two people were hospitalized after a three-vehicle, head-on collision, Wednesday, Sept. 27. The accident happened in the area of Airport Road and Fig Tree Lane, just south of the Redding Municipal Airport, in Redding.

Redding Police and Fire officials responded to the scene of the crash about 3:28 p.m., after several motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the head-on traffic collision, Redding Police Sergeant Chris Smyrnos explained in a written press release after the wreck.

When officials arrived on scene, they found vehicle parts and debris scattered across the roadway, leaving it “completely blocked,” said Smyrnos.

While medical personnel treated the injured, officers investigated the cause of the crash.

Their investigation revealed that just before the accident, Daniel Shelby, 32, of Anderson, was driving a 2000 Chevy pickup truck northbound on Airport Road, near Marvel Lane, just south of Kent’s Meats and Groceries.

Richard Ramirez, 79, of Anderson, was driving a 1991 Chevy pickup truck southbound on Airport Road, just north of Marvel Lane.

Norhrea Jones, 22 years, of Cottonwood, was driving a 1997 Buick sedan northbound Airport Road, directly behind Shelby’s pickup truck.

When Shelby began to slow down for traffic in front of him, Jones failed to slow in time and her Buick smashed into the rear-end of Shelby’s pickup truck sending it out of control into the opposing lanes of traffic.

“The impact from the collision forced Shelby’s pickup truck into the southbound lane of Airport Road, where it was struck by Ramirez’s southbound pickup truck,” said Smyrnos.

Paramedics treated all three involved in the crash before Shelby and Ramirez were transported by ground ambulance to Mercy Medical Center. Their injuries were described as non-life threatening.

Officials did not specify if Jones was injured or transported to a hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

“Jones and Shelby were wearing their seat belts; however, it is unknown at this time if Ramirez was wearing his seat belt,” Smyrnos explained.

Alcohol and/or drug intoxication do not appear to be factors in the collision, according to Smyrnos.

During their investigation officials called for the temporary closure of Airport Road and traffic was diverted to a side street while police officers investigated the cause of the crash.

Airport Road was re-opened to all traffic at around 5:30 p.m.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department’s Traffic Unit at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 17-71600 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.