Accidents plague highway on busy holiday

GLENBROOK - A single-car accident near Glenbrook sent all three vehicle occupants to the hospital during a busy Presidents Day holiday.

The accident clogged traffic about two miles east of Cave Rock. A Mitsubishi Montero was eastbound on Highway 50 when the driver lost control, authorities said. The Montero sat on its back while Nevada Highway Patrol officers investigated and cleaned the scene.

The identities of the occupants were not released.

A helicopter transport was called, but later canceled. Two passengers were taken to Washoe Medical Center in Reno with serious head injuries, while the driver went to a hospital in Carson City.

Wet weather and vacationers' scurry to get home backed traffic to Lakeview Avenue as motorists waited to get over Echo Summit.

Police Sgt. Marty Hale reported five traffic accidents within the city.

"The traffic is awful," he said. "There wasn't any road conditions. I think it was a bunch of people worried it would turn into snow."

One motorist had to be transported by helicopter after crashing into a guard rail in Alpine County, a South Lake Tahoe police dispatcher said.

The crowd kept South Lake Tahoe Fire Department busy with medical calls at sledding hills and ski resorts.

A woman and her two daughters reported carbon monoxide poisoning at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, leaving Lake Valley Fire Department briefly scrambling for ambulance coverage.

The three were checked by Kirkwood fire and were determined unharmed.

Contact William Ferchland at wferchland@tahoedailytribune.com.