Minor injuries reported after 299E rollover

HILLCREST — Fresh snowfall and un-plowed roads have been cited as possible contributing factors after a single-vehicle, rollover accident, Saturday afternoon, Jan. 5. California Highway Patrol later reported only minor injuries after the crash, which happened on Hwy. 299E, east of Big Bend Rd.

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CHP, Shasta County CDF, and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene at 3:44 p.m., after receiving reports of an accident involving a white SUV that left the roadway and overturned. (See SCNS Live Incident Log below.)

911 callers reported seeing at least two occupants out of the overturned vehicle and described possible minor injuries, with one of the occupants who appeared to be holding their arm, and the other who was holding their stomach.

Callers also advised CHP emergency dispatchers that heavy snowfall in the area may have contributed to the crash and that the roads needed to be plowed.

CHP arrived within minutes of the dispatched call and confirmed finding an overturned SUV that was about five feet from the roadway. Other motorists and good Samaritans had stopped at the scene and were providing aid and comfort to those involved in the crash.

McArthur resident, Lisa Compton Valdez, later told SCNS she happened upon the scene of the accident “right after it happened.”

Valdez said CHP had not yet arrived at the scene, but that all the occupants were out of the overturned vehicle and all stated they were okay.

Valdez went on to say the snow plows were “much needed” and reported, “”We almost slid out before we got to the point of the wreck, but were able to steer out of it.”

At around 4:16 p.m., CHP requested dispatchers to contact CalTrans to verify if they had turned on the chain signs at Montgomery Creek and reported heavy snow between Hatchet and where the accident happened. Within minutes, CalTrans updated that the signs had been activated and that snow plows were already headed to the area to clear the roadway.

The accident did not cause any significant delays and the wrecked SUV was eventually towed from the scene.

Contacted about the accident, CHP reminded Intermountain area residents and commuters to use extra caution when driving in the snow and for motorists to allow more time to reach their desired destinations, due to the road conditions.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.