Car drives off Highway 65

A car drove off Highway 65 above Perko’s Cafe near the Henderson Avenue overcrossing and crashed into the bottom of the freeway bridge’s support on Friday afternoon.

The crash was the second in the past two weeks in which a vehicle had driven off the freeway.

In both, those involved suffered only minor injuries.

In the latest incident, driver Christophe de Meester de Ravestien, 29 and Florence Gisele Anne Bettendorf, 27 both of Waterloo, Belgium, were injured in the crash.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Robert Roblado, de Ravestien was heading southbound on 65 in the left lane.

“He [the driver] said he was a little tired and dozed off, went into the center median, came down the hill and pressed on the brake,” said Roblado. Both the driver and a female passenger had minor complaints of pain and were transported to Sierra View District Hospital. Both were wearing seat belts and air bags were deployed.

Roblado pegs the cause as an unsafe turning movement and cautions drivers.

“When it’s raining slow down. If you are tired, pull over to the shoulder or take the next exit,” Roblado said.