Three Lake County teens badly hurt in crash

The driver, 16, lost control on a turn north of Jerusalem Grade Thursday, sideswiping two trees before hitting a third tree head-on.|
MARTIN ESPINOZA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Three Lake County teens suffered major injuries during a vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon on Spruce Grove Road, north of Jerusalem Grade.

The CHP reported that the driver, Ashley Grainger, 16, of Hidden Valley Lake was traveling south on Spruce Grove Road at a high rate of speed.

When Grainger came out of “a sweeping left turn,” the 2003 Nissan she was driving veered off the western edge of the road and she lost control of the vehicle, according to a CHP accident report.

The Nissan traveled sideways on the west dirt shoulder, sideswiped two trees and slammed head-on into a third tree. The teens were wearing seat belts and neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor in the accident, the CHP said.

Grainger suffered a collapsed lung and a spinal fracture. Kayla Varner, 14, of Clearlake also suffered a collapsed lung and spinal fracture. Aleesa Varner, 16, of Clearlake fractured her collar bone.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.
Send a letter to the editor