By Gary Meyer, TME

The family and friends of Eugene Oscar Hattorff are in mourning after he lost his life on the Mil Potrero Highway ‘S’ curves leading into the Pine Mountain community.
At the high school, a cheerleader and a volunteer coach have lost their father. A football player has lost his grandfather.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7 at about 3:40 p.m. Hattorff, 54 of Pine Mountain, was traveling west on Mil Potrero Highway in a 1989 Isuzu truck. Just west of Ward Drive, according to CHP, he swerved right and then left into the eastbound lane.

Zachary Giancanelli, 22 of Frazier Park was driving a 2002 Chevrolet utility truck eastbound. He collided with the Isuzu, striking the passenger door.

[CHP Officer Adriaan Garcia clarified on Sept. 17 that Giancanelli was unable to avoid the collision after Hattorff swerved into his eastbound lane.]

Due to the force of the collision and the fact that Hattorff was not wearing a seatbelt, he was ejected from the vehicle, CHP reported. He sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision. Giancanelli sustained minor injuries.

CHP reported that alcohol intoxication is a suspected factor in the collision. [CHP Officer Adriaan Garcia clarified on Sept. 17 that the suspected alcohol intoxication was in relation to the driver of the Isuzu pickup truck, not Mr. Giancanelli.]

Photo captions:

Above: at the scene of the accident on Wednesday, Sept. 7, minutes after a paramedic firefighter team arrived and solemnly confirmed there was a fatality. Right: family members and friends placed flowers along the roadway where Hattorff died. Drivers slow and remember to drive cautiously when they see them.

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This is part of the September 16, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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