CHP accident reports

Here are a couple of recent vehicle accident reports, as provided by the Willows area office of the California Highway Patrol.

Friday, July 29:

10:18 a.m., Clark Morgan Loewen, 28, of Butte City, was driving his 2004 John Deere tractor west on Highway 162, across the Butte City Bridge. His tractor steered to the right, where the right side of his tractor struck the wood bridge railing located along the north edge of the bridge. Following the crash, Loewen drove his tractor to the east side of the bridge, parked it on the shoulder, and waited for the CHP to arrive. According to CHP Officer Ron Benfer, Loewen was not using any safety equipment but he was not injured.

Saturday, Aug. 6:

8:16 a.m., Chico CHP Dispatch received a call of a vehicle accident on Highway 45, south of County Road 64. The reporting party told the dispatcher the vehicle was barely visible from the road. The driver, identified as Oscar Mancilla, 46, of San Jose, was traveling north on Highway 45 in a 2003 GMC at an unknown speed. Due to his alleged level of intoxication, he allowed his vehicle to travel onto the east shoulder. He turned his GMC aggressively to the left to keep it on the road, but it traveled down the embankment and came to rest in the drainage ditch on the west side of Highway 45. The GMC sustained major damage and Mancilla was unable to exit his vehicle due to his injuries. According to CHP Officer Roach, Mancilla was not wearing his seatbelts at the time of the accident. It was determined that the crash had occurred at about 5:30 a.m. Mancilla was subsequently arrested for driving while under the influence. He was transported with major injuries (a possible broken back and collarbone, and a cut to his forehead) by Enloe Ambulance to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.