Collison sparks small brushfire - Simi Valley Acorn
A Van Nuys man is recovering from major injuries this week after a traffic collision sent his vehicle over the side of the freeway in Simi Valley, where it ignited a small brush fire. 14, Kenneth Jernigan, 48, was driving his 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck west on the 118 Freeway between Rocky Peak Road and Kuehner Drive when he lost control of the vehicle, hit the center divider and crashed into a 1998 Isuzu Rodeo SUV,... Jernigan’s pickup flipped over the guardrail with him still inside and traveled at an angle across the embankment before falling at least 200 feet down the hill and catching on fire, while Diaz remained on the road. A brush fire soon ignited and quickly spread to about 5 acres, Ventura County Fire Capt. Duarte said the fire sparked when Jernigan’s vehicle toppled down the hill. “( Jernigan) was able to get out of the vehicle, and once he saw the flames he was able to get in a drain to keep himself safe from the fire,” the officer said. Jernigan was taken by an L. A. County Fire Department helicopter to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he was treated for several fractures, lacerations and contusions on his lungs, Duarte said. Nearly 100 personnel from VCFD, Los Angeles County Fire and Los Angeles City Fire were on scene to extinguish the small blaze. Source: www.simivalleyacorn.com
