Tuolumne Woman Causes Headon Collision On Hwy 108/120

Oakdale, CA — Four people suffered major injuries in a head-on collision Wednesday morning on Hwy 108/120 east of Oakdale at Stearns Rd.

The Highway Patrol reports 53-year-old Patricia Wesson of Tuolumne was driving her 1997 Jeep eastbound when she drifted into the opposing lane of traffic and collided with a 2000 Lexus driven by 56-year-old Kim Whittey of Oakdale. A pair of tourists from Braunfels, Germany, 60 year old Derek McLellan and 53 year old Dorothy McLellan, was also in Whittey’s vehicle.

Whittey and Dorothy McLellan were transported to Memorial Hospital in Modesto while Wesson and Derek McLellan were admitted to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. Derek McLellan was the only one of the four not wearing a safety restraint device.

Highway Patrol Officer Eric Parsons says he is not sure what led Wesson to drift into the opposing lane, but added alcohol was not a factor. The accident was reported shortly after 10am, and Hwy 108/120 was blocked for nearly two hours.

Written by bjhansen@mlode.com