A 23-year-old motorcyclist suffered critical injuries Wednesday morning after police say an impaired driver turned left directly into his path on a California highway.
According to the Redding Police Department, the crash happened around 9:40 a.m. on July 1 on State Route 273 near Kenyon Road.
Investigators say the rider was traveling southbound when a Lexus SUV, driven by 66-year-old Shyla Watson-Barker, turned left directly in front of the motorcycle. The rider had no opportunity to avoid the SUV, striking it and being thrown from the motorcycle.
A Dignity Health ambulance happened to be traveling behind the motorcyclist, witnessed the collision, and immediately stopped to provide emergency care before transporting the rider to Mercy Medical Center. Despite suffering critical injuries, he is expected to survive.
During the investigation, officers determined Watson-Barker was allegedly under the influence of both alcohol and prescription medications. She was arrested and booked into the Shasta County Jail on felony DUI causing injury charges, including driving under the influence causing injury and driving with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit while causing injury.
The Redding Police Department reminded drivers that impairment is dangerous regardless of the time of day and urged anyone who has consumed alcohol or medications that affect driving ability to find another way home.
Left-turn crashes remain one of the leading causes of serious motorcycle collisions, as riders often have little or no time to react when a vehicle turns across their lane.