Just before noon Friday, two vehicles collided at the intersection of State Route 168 and Otey Road in Bishop. One of the drivers was injured.
According to the Highway Patrol, 18-year-old Amanda Barlese of Bishop was driving a pick-up truck west on 168. 67-year-old Richard Lewis of Westminster, California, was driving west behind her with a pick-up pulling a 5th wheel trailer. The CHP said when Ms. Barlese slowed to turn left onto Otey Road, “Lewis began to pass to the left by crossing over the double yellow lines.”
Officers said Ms. Barlese did turn left and collided with Mr. Lewis’s pick-up. The CHP said the 5th wheel trailer attached to Lewis’s pick-up rolled onto its left side, blocking both the eastbound and westbound lanes of 168.
Traffic was detoured through Ed Powers Road and Red Hill Road while the lanes were blocked. The roadway was closed for approximately one hour while the lanes were being cleared.
Ms. Barlese received minor head injuries and was taken to Northern Inyo Hospital. Mr. Lewis was not injured.
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This accident is totally the fault of the man trying to pass by crossing over the double yellow lines….If you are in such a hurry and can’t obey the rules of the road especially by passing the way you did I hope you stay out of the Sierras as I don’t want to get in a head on collision due to your absolute stupidity…
So cal always in a hurry and/or just not paying attention.
Passing over a double yellow line? With a trailer in tow?
Just how impatient can you be?
If he had managed to pass safely, he might have gotten to his campsite 1 minute sooner. Now he has a wrecked trailer, a young woman had a trip to the hospital, and the CHP spent an hour just directing traffic, causing other drivers more than a minute or two of extra driving time.
I will just bet that he thinks she ran into him. Unfortunately, he is not the only driver that thinks a double yellow means pass faster.
…and the probability of a lawsuit too JaneE.
JaneE……I was thinking the same thing….sounds like the accident was 100 % fault of the pick-up and 5th wheel….
I’m sorry she was injured, but I have to ask did she have her turn signal on? And if so, why did the other driver not see it? This accident could have been a lot worse. Hope she heals up soon.
B. Richter