A truck traveling eastbound on Highway 88 became involved in one of several accidents that led to hospitalizations over the course of the week. Photo by: Bill Lavallie

A number of serious roadside injuries this week coincided with California Highway Patrol's announcement that Amador County will see a "mandatory enforcement" crackdown in the last week of December.

On Dec. 17, a Washington couple found that certain quick turnaround maneuvers don't always work on California highways. A few minutes into Martell's noontime rush, 67-year-old Garven Kinley of Suaqumish, Wash., stopped his 2005 Dodge on the west shoulder of Highway 49 near the intersection of Airport Road. From there, according to the CHP, Kinley turned south and ducked into the center two-way turn lane. Next, entering the No. 2 southbound lane, Kinley decided to attempt a U-turn. During that attempt he collided with the side of a 2004 Ford. Inside the Ford was 63-year-old Janice Walker and 33-year-old Aimee Gold, both of Sutter Creek. Kinley also had a passenger along for the wreck: 61-year-old Eliudi Issangya. The only injuries caused by the encounter were to Gold, who was treated for minor back pains.

The next afternoon, a Lodi man was not so lucky. Twenty-year-old Evan Watson was cruising southbound on Jesus Maria Road, off Highway 26. A CHP investigation later determined that Watson was traveling about 30 mph when his cell phone rang. Reaching down to answer the call, he allowed his 2002 Honda CRV to drift onto the east side of the road. Before Watson could gain control, his car hit a dirt embankment. The jarring impact sent the CRV rolling over. Watson sustained major injuries. He was rushed to Mark Twain Hospital.

On Sunday evening, Dec. 20, emergency responders rushed out to Highway 88 where a pickup truck had overturned near Previtali Road. Its driver, 55-year-old James Weaver of Hayward, had been traveling eastbound around 5 p.m. when he lost control and struck the embankment. The 2004 Toyota truck came to rest on its roof. Weaver sustained considerable injuries and was taken by ambulance to the helicopter pad at Sutter Amador Hospital, before CALSTAR carried him by flight to Mercy San Juan Hospital.

The CHP is strongly urging Amador County residents to avoid drinking and driving this holiday season, travel at safe speeds and comply with the seat belt law. To make their point, CHP will launch a Christmas enforcement period until Sunday, Dec. 27. On each of the enforcement nights, an enhanced officer presence will begin at 6 p.m.

"The holidays are about family, friends and celebration," said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. "Unfortunately, it's also a time of year when we see too many alcohol-related fatalities."

Last year California saw more than 4,000 collisions on the evenings between Dec. 24 and 26. Thirty-seven people lost their lives in the spread of accidents - 23 of whom were killed by alcohol-related crashes.

"Driving impaired is not worth the consequences," Farrow observed. "Hopefully, by drawing attention to the enforcement efforts, motorists will choose to voluntarily comply with the safety laws and be there to ring in a new year."