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A rear truck axle rests in the roadway after a four-vehicle accident Thursday on Highway 20, east of Penn Valley Drive.
Two people were injured in a four-car accident on Highway 20 Thursday morning, apparently caused by an impatient driver speeding and weaving through traffic, witnesses told investigators.
With morning fog blanketing south county with 200 to 300 feet of visibility, Steven Poston of Smartville, 55, reached speeds of up to 80 mph as he maneuvered his silver Dodge pickup through eastbound traffic on Highway 20, witnesses and CHP Officer Dina Hernandez said.
Poston lost control of his truck west of Rough and Ready Highway at about 7:17 a.m., and as he skidded into oncoming traffic, he sideswiped a white Ford F250 driven by James Klauer, 42, of Penn Valley.
Klauer was driving at about 60 mph, Hernandez added.
The ensuing wreck “looked like a war zone,” she said.
Klauer lost control of his truck, which began spinning all over the highway, she said.
As it spun, Klauer’s truck hit an eastbound maroon Honda Accord driven by Tong Field, 39, of Marysville, and a maroon Chevrolet pickup driven by Mitchell Hinds, 47, of Grass Valley.
“They all ended up scattered in both lanes,” Hernandez said. “There was debris everywhere.”
Traffic was backed up in both directions on Highway 20 and re-routed onto Mill Street and Rough and Ready Highway as the CHP tended to the accident until 8:30 a.m.
“Rough and Ready was a mess,” Hernandez said. “There were a lot of cars.”
Poston suffered moderate injuries and was in and out of consciousness as paramedics prepared him for ambulance transport to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Hernandez said.
Poston did not say why he was allegedly speeding through the fog, she said.
Field was transported by ambulance to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, she said.
Poston was in good condition Thursday afternoon and was expected to be released Thursday evening, said Sutter Roseville Medical Center spokesman John Galbraith.
Field was treated and released from the hospital Thursday morning, said Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Brett Bentley.
None of the drivers involved in the accident had passengers in their vehicles, and they were all wearing their seatbelts, Hernandez said.
The accident remains under investigation as officers gather statements from the accident victims, Hernandez said. It was too early to determine Thursday whether Poston would be cited, she said.
To contact Staff Writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail rmoormeister@theunion.com or call 477-4236.
With morning fog blanketing south county with 200 to 300 feet of visibility, Steven Poston of Smartville, 55, reached speeds of up to 80 mph as he maneuvered his silver Dodge pickup through eastbound traffic on Highway 20, witnesses and CHP Officer Dina Hernandez said.
Poston lost control of his truck west of Rough and Ready Highway at about 7:17 a.m., and as he skidded into oncoming traffic, he sideswiped a white Ford F250 driven by James Klauer, 42, of Penn Valley.
Klauer was driving at about 60 mph, Hernandez added.
The ensuing wreck “looked like a war zone,” she said.
Klauer lost control of his truck, which began spinning all over the highway, she said.
As it spun, Klauer’s truck hit an eastbound maroon Honda Accord driven by Tong Field, 39, of Marysville, and a maroon Chevrolet pickup driven by Mitchell Hinds, 47, of Grass Valley.
“They all ended up scattered in both lanes,” Hernandez said. “There was debris everywhere.”
Traffic was backed up in both directions on Highway 20 and re-routed onto Mill Street and Rough and Ready Highway as the CHP tended to the accident until 8:30 a.m.
“Rough and Ready was a mess,” Hernandez said. “There were a lot of cars.”
Poston suffered moderate injuries and was in and out of consciousness as paramedics prepared him for ambulance transport to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Hernandez said.
Poston did not say why he was allegedly speeding through the fog, she said.
Field was transported by ambulance to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, she said.
Poston was in good condition Thursday afternoon and was expected to be released Thursday evening, said Sutter Roseville Medical Center spokesman John Galbraith.
Field was treated and released from the hospital Thursday morning, said Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Brett Bentley.
None of the drivers involved in the accident had passengers in their vehicles, and they were all wearing their seatbelts, Hernandez said.
The accident remains under investigation as officers gather statements from the accident victims, Hernandez said. It was too early to determine Thursday whether Poston would be cited, she said.
To contact Staff Writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail rmoormeister@theunion.com or call 477-4236.
