COARSEGOLD — Being distracted by a ringing cell phone was a contributing factor in a single-vehicle rollover accident on Road 415 this afternoon, according to CHP at the scene.
Just before 3 p.m., a 20-year-old female driver was eastbound headed into Coarsegold approaching Trabuco Road when her cell phone rang.
The driver told officers she did not answer the phone, but did glance down at it, taking her focus off the road. By the time she looked back up, she had crossed over into the westbound lane and onto the shoulder where she hit a rock and went up the embankment, causing the 2014 Ford Focus to overturn, coming to rest on its roof in the roadway.
Initial reports indicated the driver was pinned in the vehicle, but she was able to extricate herself from the wrecked car, which belonged to her mom, and suffered only minor abrasions likely caused by the deployment of the airbags.
Madera County Fire Engine 17 and Cal Fire Engine 4284 responded, and after ensuring that the driver was okay, firefighters provided traffic control and cleaned the debris from the roadway. One-lane traffic control was in place for about 45 minutes.
“Cell phone usage will be reported as a contributing factor in this accident,” said the investigating officer at the scene. “She is very fortunate she didn’t sustain major injuries, or even die. And her seatbelt saved her life. Had she not been wearing it, she likely would have been ejected.”
The woman was driving on a suspended license, and told the CHP officer she was traveling at 55 mph at the time of the crash.
The CHP has partnered with other agencies across the country to focus on educating the public about the very real dangers of distracted driving, especially as involves cell phones.
“In the blink of an eye, lives can be transformed forever,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Scrolling through song lists on a cell phone, or texting while driving is not just irresponsible, it can have tragic consequences. We’re calling on drivers to put down their devices and help keep the roadways safe for all Americans.”
The accident remains under investigation.
