Dangerous day on the highways

2010-07-22 / Front Page

MARIPOSA COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, MARIPOSA COUNTY FIRE, CAL FIRE CREWS AND THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL WERE BUSY WITH A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS ON TUESDAY. ABOVE, 88-YEAR-OLD CLARENCE GONDER OF MIDPINES WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN HE RAN OFF HIGHWAY 140 NEAR LAKEVIEW ROAD ABOUT 4:50 P.M. ACCORDING TO CHP OFFICER CHRIS MICHAEL, GONDER WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN HIS TRUCK RAN OFF THE ROAD. HE OVERCORRECTED AND ROLLED, CAUSING A DOUBLE-COMPOUND FRACTURE TO HIS LEFT ARM. HE WAS TAKEN TO DOCTORS’ MEDICAL CENTER IN MODESTO. EARLIER IN THE DAY, A THREE-CAR ACCIDENT LEFT ONE WOMAN INJURED. MICHAEL SAID VIOLA TUCKER MOORE, 54, OF OAKHURST WAS STOPPED ON HIGHWAY 49 SOUTH, WAITING TO TURN INTO THE HILLSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH WHEN A COCA COLA VAN DRIVEN BY THOMAS BAKER OF FRESNO REARENDED HER. MOORE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN C. FREMONT HOSPITAL FOR BACK AND SHOULDER PAIN. A THIRD VEHICLE, DRIVEN BY 25-YEAR-OLD AUSTIN WAITS OF OAKHURST SWERVED OFF THE ROAD TO MISS THE COLLISION. HE WAS NOT INJURED.

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First off, author makes it

Submitted by Austin Waits (not verified) on Mon, 2010-07-26 10:13.

First off, author makes it seem like Viola Moore was waiting pateintly to turn when she was rear ended. In FACT: she slammed her brakes on while going highway speeds because she realized at the last second she was going to miss her exit. And thats why she was rear ended. She even told that to the Cal Fire crew that was helping her. If you're going to miss your exit... Don't slam on your brakes. Take time to take the next exit to turn around and come back to your exit.

whether or not she made an

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2010-07-26 20:58.

whether or not she made an abrupt stop to make a turn is irrelevant, the accident should still be the fault of the person who rear-ended her because he was following to close and/or not paying attention. people need to maintain enough distance between them self and the car ahead to come to a safe and controlled stop. i've been nearly rear-ended numerous times driving the curvy mountain roads of mariposa county because of braking hard to avoid rock debris and large animals. but some people seem to think the roads are a race coarse or their time is so much more important that they need to tail-gate. slow down people! likewise, if you do feel you need to drive slower than the speed limit, please pull off to the side of the road if you're holding up traffic.