San Andreas, CA — The Highway Patrol is advising Mother Lode residents not to swerve out of the way of small animals in the road.

Every year countless injuries occur from kind hearted residents who would rather wreck their cars than hit a small animal, and 82-year-old John Geigle is one of those people.

Reports indicate the San Andreas man was traveling on Highway 12 when he tried to avoid hitting an animal in the roadway.

CHP officials say Geigle´s car ran off the roadway, hit an embankment and became airborne. He was transported to Mark Twain St. Joseph´s Hospital for treatment.

Written by Sabrina Sabbagh