Car Flips on Mil Potrero Highway

  • Nicholas Gilbert, 24 was driving westbound on Mil Potrero Highway into Pine Mountain when he missed a sharp curve and ran across the eastbound lane into the hillside, flipping his car. Fortunately, no oncoming vehicle was hit and no one else was hurt.

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    Nicholas Gilbert, 24 was driving westbound on Mil Potrero Highway into Pine Mountain when he missed a sharp curve and ran across the eastbound lane into the hillside, flipping his car. Fortunately, no oncoming vehicle was hit and no one else was hurt.

  • This open case of Newcastle Ale was cradled in the upside down roof of the car while ambulance personnel attended to the driver.

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    This open case of Newcastle Ale was cradled in the upside down roof of the car while ambulance personnel attended to the driver.

  • An open bottle of Newcastle Ale landed on the road, on top of the shattered window glass. The driver was given a citation for DUI at the hospital and released for treatment.

    Image 3 of 4
    An open bottle of Newcastle Ale landed on the road, on top of the shattered window glass. The driver was given a citation for DUI at the hospital and released for treatment.

  • Drive Nicholas Gilbert, 24 was taken for medical assistance. Pine Mountain Station 58 sent its paramedic assessment team to assist. Hall Ambulance transproted him to the hospital. PMC Patrol helped with traffic, and California Highway Patrol investigated at the scene. [Hedlund photos for The Mountain Enterprise]

    Image 4 of 4
    Drive Nicholas Gilbert, 24 was taken for medical assistance. Pine Mountain Station 58 sent its paramedic assessment team to assist. Hall Ambulance transproted him to the hospital. PMC Patrol helped with traffic, and California Highway Patrol investigated at the scene. [Hedlund photos for The Mountain Enterprise]

A single car rollover accident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. on Mil Potrero Highway just east of Yellowstone Drive on Saturday, June 18.

Nicholas Gilbert, 24 was driving westbound on sharp curves in a black 1997 Accura CL sedan with a small "Baldwin Construction" sign on the rear bumper.

Skid marks on the road indicate he may have been traveling at a rate of speed too great for the road and missed the curve, coming across the roadway, flipping his vehicle when it ran into the steep bank of the hillside bordering the eastbound lane. Fortunately, no oncoming vehicle was hit.

Gilbert was assisted by Firefighter Paramedic Chris Schilling of Pine Mountain Fire Station 58. Gilbert was stabilized on a backboard and transferred by Hall Ambulance paramedics into the ambulance to be taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital for medical care. “It is probably minor injuries,” an official said, “but he’s going in [for medical attention] as a precaution.”

California Highway Patrol Officer Brandon Richard noted an open case of Newcastle beer in the vehicle and an open bottle that appeared to have rolled from the front seat. A witness said the driver’s words were slurred, "But he could have hit his head, and that might explain it," the witness mused. Gilbert was cited for DUI and released at the hospital where he was treated for injuries to his hands and arms.

This is part of the June 24, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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