Driver falls asleep at the wheel, flips car on Highway 46 in SLO County
A Modesto resident fell asleep at the wheel then crashed his vehicle while driving down Highway 46 in San Luis Obispo County early Friday morning, the California Highway Patrol said.
According to the agency, a 23-year-old fell asleep while driving westbound on Highway 46 near Shandon at about 6:30 a.m. He lost control of his Honda Accord and crashed into a Caltrans paddle marker, a CHP news release said.
Due to the momentum of the crash, the Honda then “launched 150 feet across a dry river bed,” struck a tree and landed on its roof on a pile of boulders between two bridges, the CHP said in a Facebook post.
“Miraculously, the driver extricated themselves and waved down help,” the post said. “The driver is incredibly lucky to be alive.”
The driver suffered moderate injuries in the crash and was transported to Adventist Health Twin Cities hospital.
CHP determined that the crash was not caused by alcohol or drug use.
The CHP advised drivers to be well-rested before driving, pull over to rest if they feel drowsy while driving and “avoid driving during peak sleepiness periods,” which is midnight to 6 a.m.
This story was originally published December 27, 2024 at 4:28 PM.
