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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LUCERNE – Officials have identified two Northshore women as the victims of a double fatal car crash Thursday.
Chief Deputy Russell Perdock of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said Friday that Joan Marylin Johnson, 60, of Lucerne and Dawn Marie Anderson, 45, of Nice died in the head-on collision that took place Thursday evening along Highway 20 between Nice and Lucerne.
A California Highway Patrol report issued Friday morning said both Johnson and Anderson were pronounced dead at the scene.
Colfax resident Gary Harrington, 52, was driving the third car in the collision. He suffered minor injuries – the calf of his right leg was injured – and sought his own medical aid, the CHP reported.
The CHP report explained that Johnson was driving a 1996 Ford Taurus at a high rate of speed westbound along Highway 20 east of Bartlett Springs Road when the collision occurred at 5:55 p.m.
As Johnson negotiated a curve in the road her car traveled onto the right shoulder, causing her to lose control of the vehicle, the CHP reported.
Anderson was driving her 1987 Mercury Cougar eastbound on Highway 20, followed by Harrington in a 2007 Ford Ranger pickup, according to the CHP report.
Johnson's car traveled across the double yellow lines and collided head-on with Anderson's car and then into the front of Harrington's pickup, the CHP report noted.
After hitting Anderson and Harrington, Johnson's car continued out of control, the CHP reported, with Johnson being ejected from the car.
Johnson was not wearing her seatbelt, the CHP report stated, while both Anderson and Harrington were.
Responding to the accident scene were CHP, Northshore Fire Protection District and the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
CHP Officer Josh Dye said the Clear Lake CHP office had about 10 officers on scene, including Commander Dane Hayward, four officers – including Dye – a sergeant, a lieutenant and several volunteers.
“We had lots of help last night,” Dye said Friday. “Usually you're struggling to find help.”
Regarding the collision's cause, Dye added, “As far as what we know now, I don't think we have anything to indicate alcohol.”
Perdock reported that sheriff's Deputy Frank Walsh was at the scene to initiate the coroner's investigation, which included identifying the two women and notifying their families.
The coroner's investigation is continuing, with autopsies scheduled for the first of next week, Perdock reported.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE – The Clearlake Police Department is looking for a man who is believed to have abducted his young son.
A report issued by police Friday evening said that Latthen Chance Douglas had allegedly fled the county with his 1-year-old son, Jarrod Chance Douglas, on Thursday afternoon.
Police believe Douglas, who has lived in Clearlake, is headed for Amarillo, Texas.
A search of Texas vital statistics shows that Douglas is 31 years of age and has lived in Amarillo for most of his life, having been born in the area.
Police say the vehicle that was involved in the alleged abduction was reportedly a black 1987 Toyota 4Runner. The vehicle has a Texas license plate with the number R81WXL.
According to Clearlake Police, Douglas was last spotted in the Houston area.
Anyone with information should call the Clearlake Police at 994-8251.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LUCERNE – Highway 20 was closed for four hours Thursday night as officials investigated a vehicle collision that killed two people and injured a third.
The California Highway Patrol incident logs noted that the head-on collision was reported shortly before 6 p.m. It occurred between Nice and Lucerne, about 300 yards east of Ceago Vinegarden.
The California Highway Patrol officers, firefighters from Northshore Fire Protection District and Lake County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene.
CHP had the highway closed while officers conducted what a sheriff's deputy called a “crime scene” – rather than an accident – investigation.
Northshore Fire Protection District officials began turning back traffic traveling from Lucerne to Nice at Lucerne's west end, where Foothill Drive joins the highway, with traffic blocked coming from the other direction just west of the accident scene.
Later, cement barricades were erected west of Harbor Park in Lucerne so that no vehicles could pass through. Many drivers turned their vehicles around to drive around the lake in the opposite direction.
Shortly before 9 p.m., Northshore Fire Chief Jim Robbins said the CHP was still working on its investigation.
“We had two fatalities and one very minor injury,” said Robbins.
“I can't really discuss any more than that,” Robbins added.
At 9:40 p.m., the park was filled with vehicles and people waiting for the road to reopen. About that time, a Caltrans truck arrived to remove the barricades in order to reopen the highway.
The highway reopened just after 10 p.m., according to the CHP incident logs.
No official statement CHP report has yet been released on the incident.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
On Thursday night, the House of Representatives passed a final version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA), according to Congressman Mike Thompson's office.
The legislation authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to construct $21 billion in flood protection ane ecosystem restoration projects, and improve the nation's rivers and harbors.
The bill, the National Audubon Society reported, includes an unprecedented $5.5 billion in funding for ecosystem restoration on the Mississippi, coastal Louisiana, and for the Great Lakes and the Everglades.
WRDA also authorizes the Corps to design and construct the Middle Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project, as Lake County News previously reported.
The legislation states that the Middle Creek project will cost $45.2 million, with an estimated federal cost of $29,500,000 and an estimated non-federal cost of $15,700,000.
Bob Lossius, Lake County's assistant director of Public Works, said in a previous interview with Lake County News that the county was only seeking $1.2 million at this time to get the project started.
"Restoring Middle Creek will improve our area's protection from flooding," said Thompson in a statement issued shortly after the House vote. "It will also have a very positive effect on the wetlands surrounding Clearlake.”
The project will restore 1,200 acres of wetlands and 500 acres of floodplain in the Clear Lake area. It entails reconnecting the Scotts Creek and Middle Creek to the historic Robinson Lake wetland and floodplain.
The Scotts and Middle Creek watersheds provide 57 percent of the water flow into Clear Lake.
No WRDA bill has been passed since 2000, a fact that's been attributed to a desire to reform the Corps' policies and prevent pork barrel politics, as Lake County News previously reported.
The House passed a version of the WRDA bill in April, with the Senate passing its version the following month.
The bill then went to conference committee, where the differences in the House and Senate bills were worked out, according to GovTrack.us. WRDA then headed back to the two chambers for final approval.
The House's Thursday vote was 381-40 in favor of the bill.
The Senate has yet to consider and approve its final version of WRDA, but it could happen as soon as this week, Thompson's office reported. The bill would then go to the president.
But even if the bill gets through the Senate, it's not home free.
In May, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy that reported President Bush was opposed to the bill.
He has since renewed his threat to veto the bill, which has groups from the Louisiana Congressional delegation to the National Audubon Society asking him to reconsider.
Some members of Congress – including those from Louisiana – have stated that they have enough votes in Congress to override a possible veto.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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