DUI suspected in 2-vehicle crash on Highway 190

California Highway patrol officers were called to a two-vehicle accident on Highway 190 at Road 208 early Thursday morning for an accident that partially blocked the highway for several hours.

Chua Yang, 19, of Lindsay, was driving a 2001 Ford Mustang south on Road 208, just north of Highway 190, while intoxicated, at about 5:05 a.m. CHP reports. Meanwhile Roy E. Battles, 51, of Springville, was driving a 1997 International tractor-trailer rig west on Highway 190.

Yang did not stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Road 208 and Highway 190 and tried to turn east onto the highway, into the path of the big rig, CHP reports.

The big rig hit the Mustang, which came to rest in the eastbound lane of the highway. The big rig overturned on the south shoulder of the highway just west of Road 208.

A passenger in the Mustang, Andrea M. Massaro, 18, of Porterville, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Sierra View District Hospital for treatment.

Yang and Battles each suffered minor injuries, with Yang taken to Sierra View and Battles not requiring immediate care.

Eastbound traffic on Highway 190 was blocked for several hours while the overturned trailer was unloaded and righted.

Yang was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs causing injury to another, and was booked at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility.

-- Contact The Recorder newsroom at 784-5000, Ext. 1043.