AUGUST 17, 2009 - A woman and child were seriously injured when a tire apparently separated from its rim and their vehicle rolled over east of Imperial, authorities said. The solo-car accident happened about 7 a.m. on Highway 111 north of Harris Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. The 2000 Toyota 4Runner was carrying six passengers when the accident occurred. The two victims who were ejected were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, authorities said. Two adult males and two other children were injured in the crash. All of the victims were transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center. The CHP is investigating the rollover crash.
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JULY 13, 2009 - A woman was ejected from a sports utility vehicle and died on a rural stretch of Interstate 8, authorities said. The unidentified woman was an unrestrained rear passenger in a GMC Envoy that was traveling west on I-8 shortly before 3 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. A left rear tire apparently began rapidly losing air about five miles west of Dunaway Road, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and flip over on the dirt shoulder, authorities said. Another unrestrained rear passenger was also ejected, but her injuries were not considered life-threatening. The driver of the SUV, identified as 28-year-old Honibea Danni Smith of Alpine, and a front-seat passenger were wearing seat belts and suffered only minor injuries, authorities said. The CHP is continuing its investigation into the SUV rollover.
JUNE 23, 2009 - A 17-year-old boy from Holtville suffered major injures when the truck he was riding in overturned on Interstate 8, authorities said. The driver of the truck, identified as 25-year-old Ricardo Martinez of Holtville, was traveling west on I-8 west of Dunaway Road when the rear tires on the 1998 Ford F-150 blew out around 12:30 p.m., the California Highway Patrol reported. The tread on both tires then separated, causing Martinez to lose control and overturn in the center median, authorities said. The boy was transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries. A 52-year-old passenger in the truck, identified as Enrique Magallanes of Holtville, also suffered major injuries and was flown to University of California San Diego Medical Center, officials said. His injuries were also unspecified. Martinez suffered minor injuries during the crash. The CHP is investigating the accident.
JUNE 21, 2009 - A 41-year-old man was seriously injured when he was struck by an out-of-control car as he worked alongside Highway 125, authorities said. The victim was a subcontractor for Caltrans who was loading a message-board trailer onto his truck about 2:25 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. A 22-year-old man driving a 2002 Ford Ranger south near Grossmont College Drive lost control after the tread separated from his truck’s left-rear tire, authorities said. He crashed into the sign trailer and the left side of the truck, knocking the subcontractor 30 feet into some bushes alongside the highway. The worker suffered internal injuries and numerous broken bones, officials said, and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The pickup driver was cited for driving without a license and his vehicle was impounded, the CHP said. Officials do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident. The CHP is continuing its investigation.
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