COARSEGOLD – A two-vehicle crash on Highway 41 this morning resulted in one driver being airlifted to a Valley hospital.
At 11:22 a.m., reports came in to 911 of a crash at Road 416 with both lanes of Highway 41 blocked.
A 62-year-old man from Oakhurst, driving a Ford Expedition that was pulling a utility trailer, was at the stop sign on Road 416 preparing to turn left onto Highway 41, according to CHP at the scene.
However, traffic was not clear and when the Expedition pulled out onto the highway, it was broadsided by a southbound Chevy Colorado driven by a 71-year-old Coarsegold man.
Both vehicles came to rest blocking the roadway, and one-lane traffic control was put in place.
The driver of the Expedition was transported by ground ambulance to the landing zone at the Chukchansi Casino and airlifted by SkyLife to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.
The driver of the Chevy pickup suffered some abrasions and was checked out by Sierra Ambulance personnel but refused further medical treatment.
The 39-year-old passenger in the Expedition was not injured. CHP says all involved parties were wearing their seat belts.
CHP set up on both north and south ends of the traffic backup to make sure there were no further crashes as vehicles approached the lane stoppages.
The roadway was partially blocked for over an hour until the scene was cleared at 12:26 p.m.
The accident remains under investigation.
