Serving the community since 1922

Weather wreaks havoc on Shafter roadways

The weather in Shafter on Monday and Tuesday was very windy and moist, which translated into major havoc on roadways in and around Shafter. There were three accidents in a 24-hour time span in which three people were transported by ambulance to local hospitals.

On Monday, at approximately 12:45 p.m., a silver compact car traveling west on Lerdo Highway collided with a semitruck and trailer, causing it to bounce off the front of the truck and come to rest in the median of Lerdo Highway just west of Zerker Road. The driver was transported to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

Tuesday morning saw two more accidents inside the city limits. At just before 8 a.m. at the intersection of Ricky Barraza Memorial Highway and Pacific Street, two cars collided, sending one of the vehicles into the bus stop area for the regional transit bus. A bench was damaged, as well as the demolition of the Little Library that was on the corner. The driver of one of the vehicles was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Just three hours later, at the corner of Mannel Avenue and Lerdo Highway, a black Chevrolet Suburban and a white minivan collided, smashing the driver's side of the Suburban and breaking the suspension, forcing the driver's side tires to point straight out. The minivan sustained major damage to the front left of the vehicle. Weather has been speculated as a major factor in these accidents. The investigations are ongoing.

Safety organizations encourage drivers to take extra time and care when in windy and dark conditions.

 

Reader Comments(0)