AHWAHNEE – A three-vehicle crash on Highway 49 on Thursday stopped traffic in both directions and sent two people to the hospital.
Just before 3:30 p.m. on Apr. 19, Corbet Jones, 51, of Fresno was southbound on Highway 49 near Hilltop Lane in a 2015 Kenworth logging truck with an attached trailer.
Just as Jones began negotiating a right-hand corner in the roadway, his trailer began sliding into the northbound lane, according to CHP.
Backup on Highway 49 Apr 19 crash – photo Isabeau Ocon
Veronica Ramirez, 27, of Livingston, was northbound in a 2002 Nissan and saw the trailer entering her lane. She attempted to turn to the right to avoid the collision, but was side-swiped by the trailer, causing her to momentarily lose control of her vehicle.
Directly behind Ramirez was a 2016 Fork pickup, driven by Chriso Lee, 33, of Coarsegold. Lee did not have time to react to the trailer, which was now totally in the northbound lane, and the front of the Ford struck the trailer tires, separating the trailer from the truck.
The accident blocked both north and southbound lanes of Highway 49.
Both Ramirez and Lee were transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno by Mercy Ambulance. Ramirez sustained what were described as minor injuries, and Lee suffered moderate injuries. Jones was not injured in the crash.
The accident remains under investigation.
