Calaveras Weekend Accidents Cause Major Injuries
San Andreas, CA — A motorcyclist and two young adults sustained major injuries in two separate accidents this past weekend.
Saturday, around 10:45 a.m., 64-year-old Daniel Rau of Mountain Ranch was westbound on Ridge Road riding a 2012 Harley Davidson when he lost control within a roadway curve. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) San Andreas Unit, Rau, who was driving about 40 mph at the time, lost traction and collided with the roadway. He was transported by ambulance to Mark Twain Hospital with major injuries. Alcohol and/or drugs were not a factor, according to the CHP report.
Friday evening just before 5:30, speed was a factor in a serious two-vehicle accident on Highway 4 near Pool Station Road in Angels Camp that sent three people to hospitals and delayed traffic for well over an hour.
According to CHP, 21-year-old Jeremiah Elsey, of Stockton, was headed east along the highway, driving a 1995 Toyota Camry about 65 mph, an unsafe speed, when he lost control along a curve and crossed over the double yellow center line into the westbound lane. The CHP report indicates that the driver of the oncoming 1980 Toyota, 23-year-old Dale Potter of Linden, saw Elsey’s vehicle coming at him and applied his brakes forcibly but was unable to avoid the collision. The accident subsequently blocked both roadway lanes.
Elsey was flown by air ambulance to Doctors Medical Center, in Modesto for treatment of major injuries. Potter, who also suffered major injuries, was transported to Mark Twain Medical Center. Potter’s passenger, 23-year-old Amanda Potter, of Stockton, was also transported to Mark Twain Medical Center with minor injuries. CHP states that alcohol and/or drugs were not a factor in the crash.
