LA woman suspected of causing big-rig crash on Highway 46 was drunk driver, CHP says
A Los Angeles woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following a big rig crash Sunday on Highway 46 near Shandon that blocked both westbound lanes of the roadway for several hours, the CHP said Monday.
Zoe Kirkpatrick, 29, was arrested and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of DUI causing injury at about 12:43 p.m. Sunday, jail logs show.
Her bail was set at $100,000, the CHP said.
As of Monday morning, Kirkpatrick was no longer listed in custody but has a tentative court appearance date of Jan. 6.
The crash, which happened around 6:15 a.m. Sunday, blocked both westbound lanes of Highway 46 for most of that morning.
According to the CHP, Kirkpatrick was traveling westbound just west of the Shandon rest area before she pulled her 2015 Honda Civic off to the right shoulder but sticking out in the slow lane, and turned off her headlights.
A westbound Freightliner tractor and trailer loaded with 30,000 pounds of produce driven by 66-year-old Thomas Browning, of Oakdale swerved to avoid Kirkpatrick’s vehicle, the CHP said.
The big rig’s trailer struck the left side of the Honda and rolled onto its side and came to a stop blocking both westbound lanes of the highway, the agency.
Browning suffered major injuries in the crash, and was airlifted to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, the CHP said.
Kirkpatrick suffered minor injuries and was taken to Twin Cities Hospital in Templeton, the CHP said.
A dog in her vehicle was uninjured and taken to San Luis Obispo County Animal Control Services, the agency said.
This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 10:50 AM.
