The California Highway Patrol has released details of the Thursday afternoon accident that sent a 13 year-old Susanville resident to Renown Medical Center with major injuries.
According to the CHP the driver of a 1988 Ford Ranger, a 17 year-old Susanville resident, was traveling at 25 to 30mph toward Lake Leavitt Road from his home on Eternal Springs Way with an 18 year-old passenger in the right front seat.
Unknown to either of them, a second passenger, the driver’s brother, was sneaking a ride by hanging on the tailgate of the vehicle.
The CHP reports the accident occurred after the truck came to a stop on Eternal Springs Way and the driver realized that his brother’s dog was in the bed of the truck.
When the truck stopped, the younger brother let go of the tailgate and dropped to the ground directly behind the vehicle. Still unaware that his brother was there, the driver drove the truck in reverse in order to take the dog home.
The vehicle traveled over the 13 year-old inflicting major injuries. He was transported to Renown Medical Center by Mountain Life Flight and is in critical condition.
Names of involved juveniles are being withheld.
