OAKHURST – Two drivers were transported to Valley hospitals and one placed under arrest following a head-on crash on Road 426.
At 3:40 p.m., Chris Hartesvelt, 65, of North Fork, was westbound on Road 426 in a Subaru Forester at the 25 mph corner near the Llama Ranch at the top of the grade.
As she rounded the corner, she was hit head-on by an eastbound Nissan Versa driven by Casey Craig, 43, also out of North Fork, which had crossed the double yellow lines into her lane, according to CHP.
Several other motorists stopped to assist as Madera County Sheriff, CHP, Cal Fire and Madera County Fire responded to the accident. Craig was trapped in the Nissan as the driver’s door was smashed in, but firefighters were able to extricate him through the passenger door.
Witnesses said the smell of alcohol was very strong, and after a breathalyzer test, it was determined that Craig was under the influence. He was placed under arrest for felony DUI causing injury to others. He was transported to the landing zone at Vons in Oakhurst and airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno due to a head wound.
Hartesvelt suffered what were described as moderate injuries but was in a lot of pain. She was transported by ground ambulance to Kaiser Medical Center in Fresno.
The roadway was blocked in both directions for over an hour as the injured were prepared for transport and the scene was cleared.
The accident remains under investigation.
