Monday, Aug. 23, 2010

Woman killed in crash

Man bitten by a snake in separate incident

A woman was killed in a fatal roll-over accident on Highway 152 last Friday, according to a news release issued by the California Highway Patrol.

Krystal Nakamura, 22, died after being ejected from the vehicle.

At 2:21 p.m. a 2002 Ford Expedition was traveling at 75 mph eastbound near Island Road, the release stated. The driver, 21-year-old Adam Rivera, reportedly allowed the SUV to drift toward the south side of the road. He abruptly swerved to the left and lost control of the vehicle, according to the news release. The SUV subsequently rolled-over several times, flinging Nakamura out of the right rear side of the vehicle.

“Had the deceased been wearing her seatbelt properly, it is believed she would have survived the collision,” the release stated.

Four other occupants in the SUV, including Rivera, suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Snake bite

A man was rushed to the hospital by a California Highway Patrol officer after being bitten by a rattle snake Aug. 19.

According to the CHP, Officer Perreira was parked near a construction zone on Highway 152 west of Romero’s Visitor Center when he saw two men exit a purple Neon.

Perreira subsequently discovered one of the men, Bryant Rushing, 20, had been bitten by a rattle snake while hunting near Dinosaur Point.

Perreira reportedly realized that Rushing had to be treated quickly. He drove rushing to Memorial Hospital Los Banos in his patrol car.

The hospital’s emergency room staff was contacted by Perreira prior to him arriving at the facility with Rushing. According to the CHP, Rushing received treatment immediately.