Tag Archives: chp

Crash Near South Lake Leads to DUI Arrests

On 5/11/2020 at approximately 1700 hours, Macy Bounds was driving a Jeep Wrangler northbound on South Lake Rd. south of SR-168 (west) at approximately 55 MPH. Trujillo and Thomas were passengers in the Jeep Wrangler. Bounds entered a right hand curve in the roadway at an excessive speed for the roadway conditions, and subsequently lost control of the Jeep. The Jeep fishtailed, went off the road, and overturned in the sagebrush, ejecting Bounds and Trujillo, who were unrestrained. After the collision, passing motorists stopped to assist the injured parties. CHP, Inyo County Sheriff deputies, Cal Fire, Bishop Fire Department, and Symons all responded to the scene. Subsequent to an investigation, Bounds was arrested for Driving Under The Influence of alcohol causing injuries to other parties.

Bishop Man Arrested for Vandalizing Tri-County Fairgrounds

On January 2, 2020, the California Highway Patrol received a call about an individual who was vandalizing property at the Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fairgrounds. CHP Officer, Adam Otten arrived on to the scene, and saw signs of multiple break-ins around the property.

After inspecting the damage to the buildings, Officer Otten located the suspect’s backpack, bicycle, drug paraphernalia, and methamphetamine. The alleged vandal had abandoned his items, and was found hiding in a nearby bathroom at the Tri-County Fair.

At the same time the property crime was occurring, the highway patrolman was called to another emergency in the area, and had to leave the suspect in order to respond. When CHP returned to the scene, officers located the suspect hiding in the RV storage area of the fairgrounds.

After locating the individual, Otten observed signs that the homeless suspect was living in multiple trailers without the consent of the owners.

The suspect was identified as 29 year old male, Thomas Burkins. He was arrested on the charges of felony burglary, vandalism, possession of burglary tools, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of probation.

Burkins was previously arrested on similar charges relating to burglary, vandalism, and possession of drugs in the middle of December 2019.

Suspect Wanted by Authorities After Possible Kidnapping in Bishop

Authorities are looking for a possible kidnapping suspect in the Bishop Area. At 12:46 PM on May 16, a 911 call was received to report a dispute between a male and female at the Arco in Bishop on South Main Street.

A Hispanic male and Hispanic female were screaming at each other, and after arguing, the male suspect was seen by witnesses dragging the female into what was reported as a white Ford Pickup truck with two Pitbulls in the back.

The male was also seen reaching into his waistband, but witnesses could not identify a weapon.

A few minutes later, a second report came into dispatch stating that the female jumped out of the car on Barlow and West Line Streets to escape the male. The driver then chased the female with the pickup truck, which was reported this time as a White Chevy Truck.

The California Highway Patrol, Bishop Police Department, and Inyo County Sheriff’s Department are all investigating this matter and looking for the Hispanic male suspect.

Woman Arrested in Poverty Hills Area After Crashing

A woman was arrested Thursday after a vehicle spin-out in Poverty Hills.

22 year old, Kianna Hoops from Reno, Nevada was driving a gray Honda Accord south of Big Pine when she lost control of her vehicle for an unknown reason and spun out.

When Hoops lost control of her vehicle, CHP arrived on the scene to investigate the accident. While conducting an inspection, the officer checked inside the vehicle and discovered a lever action firearm as well as a small amount of drugs.

After running the serial number, the officer determined that the firearm was not registered to Hoops, and was stolen.

Kianna Hoops was subsequently arrested for possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was detained and booked at the Inyo County Jail. Her bail is set for $15,000.

FATAL CRASH

Single vehicle rollover leaves one dead and two injured on Highway 6

Posted by Seth Conners

According to CHP in Bishop, on March 26, at approximately 5:30 am, CHP Bishop Communications Center was notified of a single vehicle rollover collision on US 6, south of the Nevada State Line. Personnel from White Mountain Fire/Rescue, Symon’s Ambulance, Mono County Deputies and the California Highway Patrol responded to the scene. Upon arrival, White Mountain Fire/Rescue personnel located the vehicle occupants in various levels of injury, including a juvenile passenger lying in the road unresponsive. These personnel rendered aid to the occupants until relieved by Symon’s Ambulance personnel. Despite a valiant attempt by all first responders to resuscitate the unresponsive passenger, He succumbed to his injuries as a result of the collision.

According to the report, a preliminary investigation of the evidence at the scene by CHP Officers indicated that the Ford and trailer were traveling southbound on US 6 at the stated 60 miles per hour. At approximately 0530 hours, for an unsubstantiated reason, the Ford and trailer crossed over the northbound lane of travel, onto the northbound dirt shoulder and struck a paddle marker. The driver turned the Ford and trailer to the right, onto the roadway and lost control of the vehicle. The Ford and trailer began to slide sideways until rolling over at least one time in the southbound lane and came to rest on their wheels facing east. None of the vehicle occupants were wearing their seat belts and three of them were ejected during the rollover sequence.

The cause of this collision is currently under investigation by the Bishop Area CHP.

 

DANGEROUS WINDS

Big rigs blown over on highway 395.

By Seth Conners

High winds in the Owens Valley wreaked havoc Monday night for traffic on the 395.  Some time early Monday evening CHP reported, not one but, TWO big rigs blown over between Lone Pine and Olancha.  The accidents were caused by winds that were reported to have been up to 75 miles per hour.

Drivers were caution by CHP to be extremely careful on the roads as high winds continued to be a problem in the early week.  The winds were more dangerous today (Tuesday Jan, 3rd) north of Bishop.  A high wind prohibition for large vehicles was issued, starting just North of Bishop and spanned all the way to the Nevada State Line near Lake Topaz.

NEW FIRE IN LONE PINE

Fire crews respond to a wild fire in Lone Pine.

August 9th
By Seth Conners

Fire crews from numerous agencies are responding to a fire reported along Horseshoe Meadows Road.  It is estimated to be approximately ten acres in size.  Responding agencies include Inyo National Forest, Inyo Sheriffs Office, Lone Pine Fire, Cal Fire, BLM, and CHP.
There is a mandatory evacuation of Horseshoe Meadows Campground (Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood pass, and the Equestrian Camp)- hikers and campers will be escorted out.  There is also a hard closure of Lubkin Canyon Road and Horseshoe Meadows Road.
We’ll provide more details as they roll in.

Horshoe Meadows, Lone Pine, Cal Fire, Fire Crews, BLM, CHP

 

Sobriety Checkpoint Friday

CHP and MLPD Conducting DUI Checkpoint

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Bridgeport Area and the Mammoth Lakes Police Department (MLPD) have collectively scheduled a sobriety checkpoint for Friday, September 18, 2015, in Mono County.  Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The purpose of a sobriety checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, remove impaired drivers from the roadway and educate the public regarding the dangers of impaired driving.

Unfortunately, impaired driving remains a major traffic safety issue.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Website, in 2012 more than 10,000 people were killed nationally in alcohol-impaired traffic collisions.  NHTSA estimates alcohol-impaired traffic collisions cost an estimated “37 billion dollars annually”.

Unfortunately, what cannot be captured in the statistics is the lasting impact an impaired driving event has on those involved.  Lieutenant Jeff Holt, Commander of the CHP Bridgeport Area, wanted to remind residents, “Impaired drivers, either drunk and/or drugged, create a life threatening danger to our communities.  A sobriety checkpoint has a deterrent effect which ultimately makes Mono County safer.  This year alone, DUI related traffic collisions in Mono County are up 60 percent from 2014.  This is a trend that cannot continue. With cooperation from the public and a collaborative effort towards traffic safety from our law enforcement partners, we can reduce DUI related collisions.”

In an effort to reduce impaired driving, the CHP employs sobriety checkpoints to raise awareness and remove impaired drivers from the roadway.  Please, don’t become a statistic.  Always plan ahead and designate a sober driver.

california highway patrol, mammoth lakes police department, mono county dui checkpoint, chp, mlpd

395 Head On Collision leaves 1 Dead

CHP investigating Wednesday Accident south of Ridgecrest

A 25-year old Lancaster man is dead after his 2014 Kia Optima crossed a double yellow line on Highway 395 Wednesday colliding with a northbound Ford F-350.  The California Highway Patrol indicates the cause of the collision remains under investigation, however their accident reports shows that the Kia driver “drove across the painted solid double yellow lane lines (a no passing zone), into the northbound lane in an attempt to pass two passenger vehicles and a tractor trailer in the southbound lane.”  The driver of the Kia, who’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The 56-year old driver of the northbound 2013 F-350, and his 63-year old passenger (both of Bakersfield) were treated at the scene by medical personnel and transported by Liberty Ambulance to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital.

The Wednesday afternoon collision occurred on highway 395 just south of Ridgecrest, approximately a mile and a half south of China Lake Boulevard.

chp, ridgecrest, highway 395

Bakersfield woman dies in Saturday crash

Motorcycle Crash claims Bakersfield woman

The Bishop area office of the California Highway Patrol is confirming the death of 48-year old Deann Marie Dodd.  According to the CHP accident report, Dodd was riding a 2013 Harley Davidson Switchback on state route 168 Saturday afternoon when she failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway leading to the fatal crash.

The CHP accident report indicates that just minutes after 3pm Saturday Dodd was traveling eastbound on state route 168 east of Death Valley road traveling at an estimated 50 to 60 miles per hour.  The report notes, “For an unknown reason Dodd failed to negotiate the left curve in the roadway.  Dodd made an unsafe turning movement and allowed the motorcycle to travel off the south edge of 168.  The motorcycle overturned, Dodd was ejected.”

48-year old Deann Marie Dodd was transported to Bishop’s Northern Inyo Hospital by the Big Pine Fire department, she was pronounced dead at 5:56pm.

chp, eastern sierra news, big pine fire department, deann marie dodd

Remains recovered near Shepherd Pass

Shepherd Pass Recovery Mission

Adverse weather delays recovery
Remains yet to be identified

Inyo County Sheriff’s Department report:

On Monday May 18th, 2015 Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch received notification of a deceased person off the Shepherd Pass trail at about the 12,000” elevation level. The information shared with the Sheriff’s Office from the reporting party was that it was evident that the person had been deceased for some time.

Due to the demanding and steep terrain, it was determined that a helicopter recovery would be the safest mechanism to remove the body. Several attempts were made, but due to the recent storm activity in the High Sierra’s the recovery mission had to be held off until the morning of Wednesday May 27th. CHP Helicopter H-80 out of Apple Valley was utilized. Inyo SAR members were able to safely secure the remains for transport to the Lone Pine Airport where they were met by the Inyo County Coroner’s Office. Cause of death has not yet been determined, nor has positive identification of the remains.

“The remains were about 75-yards due east of the Shepherd Pass trail, about 200-yards from the Sequoia National Park boundary, located in a flat area where it would be safe to presume that a fall was not the cause,” stated SAR Coordinator Brian Hohenstein.

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank CHP H-80 for their assistance, and the Inyo SAR volunteers.

cover photo provided by the Inyo County Sheriffs Department

inyo county sheriffs department, shepherd pass, chp, inyo county search and rescue, eastern sierra news

Come for Vacation, don’t leave on Probation

CHP and CDFW conducting checkpoints

The California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will be holding checkpoints this weekend. The CHP sobriety checkpoint is Saturday, April 25th on highway 395 at the south end of Bishop. The DFW checkpoint is scheduled for Monday, April 27th on highway 108, north of Bridgeport.

In recent years, Fish and Wildlife has conducted a similar checkpoint south of Bishop, however this year they are shifting their focus to Mono County. According to CDFW officials their checkpoint will, “Promote safety, education and compliance with laws and regulations. The wildlife checkpoint is being conducted to protect and conserve fish and wildlife, and to encourage safety and sportsmanship by promoting voluntary compliance with laws, rules and regulations through education, preventative patrol and enforcement. All anglers and hunters will be required to stop and submit to an inspection. CDFW officers will also be providing informative literature about the invasive quagga mussel and New Zealand Mudsnail.”

The Saturday CHP checkpoint will be staffed by officers who are trained in the detection of alcohol and or drug impaired drivers. Officers will be on site providing on the spot assessments of drivers suspected of drug use. Officers will be equipped with state of the art hand held breath testing devices with provide an accurate measure of blood alcohol concentrations of suspected drunk drivers.

Funding for the CHP checkpoint is provided to the CHP by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the national highway traffic safety administration.

chp, cdfw, eastern sierra news, bishop news, mono county