OAKHURST — One man was taken to the hospital and traffic was reduced to one lane after a collision just north of Oakhurst late this afternoon.
CHP, Cal Fire and Madera County Fire responded to reports of a two-vehicle accident on Highway 49 just north of Rio del Vista Drive, blocking the roadway.
Initial reports were of a car into a power pole, however CHP says one vehicle hit the guy wire, not the pole itself. PG&E responded to assess the situation.
Just after 5 p.m., a 68-year-old Oakhurst man was northbound on Highway 49 in a 2013 Toyota Tacoma approaching the Goldside area.
A 1982 Ford F250 was southbound at the same location, when the 78-year-old driver began to make a left-hand turn across traffic, into his driveway.
According to witnesses, the F250 turned directly into the path of the Tacoma, and the two vehicles collided nearly head-on.
The driver of the Tacoma was pinned into his vehicle, and had to be extricated by firefighters with the Jaws of Life. He was then transported by ground ambulance to the Veterans Administration in Fresno.
The driver of the F250 was checked out by EMS at the scene, but declined transport for additional medical treatment.
The accident remains under investigation.
