Post July Fourth Crash Injures Seven Locals
Copperopolis, CA — A multi-vehicle crash involving eight people Tuesday sent two to Modesto Medical Center with moderate to major injuries.
The incident, which occurred in Copperopolis just before 5 p.m., was triggered as Dannielle Turnipseed, 24, of Copperopolis, was headed south on Little John Road and slowing to turn right onto Bow Drive. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) San Andreas Unit, she was driving a 1998 Jeep Wranger.
Heading north on Little John at an undetermined rate of speed, the driver of a second vehicle, Christina Germolus, 35, also of Copperopolis, was piloting a 2014 Toyota Scion towards Turnipseed’s vehicle. According to the police report, there were also two parked vehicles on the east shoulder just north of Bow Drive.
Police state that, as Turnipseed veered left, Germolus collided with the Jeep head-on, which caused it to flip over onto its roof. Germolus then ran into the two parked vehicles. One of these, a 2002 Toyota, contained five people.
Germulus, who sustained major injuries, and her passenger, a 17-year-old female from Copperopolis, whose injuries were described as moderate, were both transported to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for treatment. Turnipseed, who suffered minor injuries, was not transported.
Four of the five people in the parked Toyota also received minor injuries. These were Jazzmond Hibbard, 23, of Copperopolis, and four female minors whose ages range from three to 16 years of age.
According to police, all those involved were wearing seatbelts and neither alcohol or drugs was considered to be a factor in the crash.
