Ramona woman killed in Lakeside crash
A 36-year-old Ramona woman was killed in a head-on crash on state Route 67 near Johnson Lake Road in Lakeside last Tuesday afternoon.
Bridgette T. Hale died at the scene after the Chevrolet Astro van she was driving was hit by an Oldsmobile 98 driven by John Holsheimer, 51, of Las Vegas. Holsheimer, whose northbound vehicle had crossed the solid double yellow lines, told rescuers he did not remember what happened and he may have fallen asleep, said California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Pennings.
According to the medical examiner’s office, Hale was the mother of an infant son.
Witnesses reported that Holsheimer’s vehicle traveled on the wrong side of the road for about a quarter of a mile before it struck the van. Pennings said three southbound vehicles swerved out of the way before the car struck Hale’s van. Hale applied her brakes and swerved to the right but was unable to avoid the collision, Pennings added.
Debbie Roberts of Ramona was driving three vehicles behind Hale’s van and attempted to help. Roberts and a man at the scene crawled down the embankment to the van and tried unsuccessfully to open the van’s door, which was damaged by the crash. She said Hale did not suffer.
“She looked right up at the heavens,” said Roberts. “She’s with God.”
Roberts believes Hale died within minutes of the crash. “I know that she left in peace to heaven.”
The accident occurred about 2:30 p.m. Holsheimer was airlifted to an area trauma center.
An investigation of the crash has not been completed, Pennings said Tuesday.
In another collision, a 28-year-old San Diego motorcyclist was killed in a head-on with a pickup on state Route 78 at Payson Drive in Julian.
Carl Davis was riding a 2007 Honda CVR 600 motorcycle in the eastbound lane when, for an unknown reason, he crossed the double yellow lines and was hit by a 1976 pickup driven by Dean Young, also of San Diego, said Pennings.
A witness reported that, prior to the collision, the motorcycle passed him at a high rate of speed. The witness, who was eastbound, told officials he lost visual contact with the motorcycle and moments later came upon the collision, which occurred in the westbound lane at a curve in the roadway. Pennings said the driver of the pickup had little or no time to react.
The accident occurred about 12:30 p.m. Paramedics attempted to revive Davis, but he died at the scene.