COARSEGOLD — A three-vehicle crash slowed the commute on Highway 41 this afternoon on the south end of Deadwood.
At 5:45 p.m., reports came in of an accident involving several vehicles just south of Road 420.
According to CHP at the scene, an SUV was southbound on Highway 41 and had slowed to make a left turn onto Cavin Lane. A southbound Nissan Versa, with five people on their way home to Santa Ana including a pregnant passenger in the back seat, slowed behind the Honda that was waiting to turn.
A Chevy pickup occupied by two young females from Coarsegold came up behind those two vehicles, apparently didn’t realize they were stopped and the driver slammed on the brakes, hitting the Honda and spinning to the left into oncoming traffic, says CHP investigating the crash.
The pickup was then struck by a northbound Nissan Murano driven by a female from Coarsegold.
One patient in the Versa was transported to St. Agnes with what were characterized as minor injuries. Several others had complaints of pain and bruises, but were not transported.
The SUV that was waiting to make the left turn was not hit as other vehicles collided, and the driver waited for CHP to arrive to give a statement.
CHP, Madera County Sheriff’s deputies, Caltrans, Sierra Ambulance and Cal Fire Engines 4285 and 4295 all responded to the scene. Southbound traffic was backed up nearly to the top of Deadwood at times as one-lane traffic control was put in place.
The crash scene was cleared and the roadway reopened in both directions just after 7 p.m.
The accident remains under investigation.
