North County man injured in DUI crash
– According to the California Highway Patrol, Paso Robles resident Charles Lee Boyd was injured driving his 1989 Mercury Cougar northbound on Highway 1 south of Ragged Point near San Simeon early Wednesday, at approximately 9 a.m., when he lost control of his car and crashed, causing serious injuries.
CHP say that Boyd entered a straight section of highway and was driving at a very high rate of speed, when he realized his vehicle was drifting to the right, and he steered to the left. Due to alcohol intoxication Boyd over-corrected and the vehicle entered the southbound lane of highway one, CHP say.
Boyd turned right, and his vehicle began to spin. The vehicle slid across the southbound and northbound lane of State Route 1 before hitting an embankment and barbed wire fence. The vehicle became airborne and overturned. The force of the impact and overturning caused Boyd to be ejected out of the vehicle.
He was not wearing his seatbelt properly which was the reason for his ejection, CHP say.
The vehicle came to rest on its wheels after sustaining major front end damage. Boyd landed on the embankment on the east side of Highway 1. He sustained major injuries including lacerations, fractured ribs, collapsed lung, and a spinal injury.
Boyd was transported to Sierra Vista Hospital by ground ambulance. He was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol and released to the hospital for treatment. A DUI complaint will be filed through the District Attorney’s Office, according to CHP.
