Tuolumne, CA…On July 30, 2020 at approximately 4:05 pm, 20-year-old Merced resident, Kayla Marie Dickerson-Childres, was driving a 2012 Toyota Yaris traveling southbound on North Fork Road through a left-hand curve in the roadway, approximately 5.5 miles south of State Route 108. 59-year-old Sonora resident, Brian Edward Finigan was driving a 2007 Dodge Ram traveling northbound on North Fork Road, approaching Dickerson-Childres. Dickerson-Childres allowed her vehicle to travel over the solid double yellow lines and directly into the path of Finigan’s vehicle.

The vehicles crashed head on causing major damage to the Toyota Yaris and minor damage to the Dodge Ram. Finigan and his passengers, 27-year-old Sonora resident, Tanner Nichols, 23-year-old Placerville resident, Alejandro Ramirez, and 39-year-old Shingle Springs resident, Gilberto Jaime Nolasco were properly restrained and escaped injury. Dickerson-Childres was also properly restrained sustained minor injuries and refused medical aid.

Dickerson-Childres’ passengers were not so lucky. 33-year-old Copperopolis resident, Melissa Ann McCullough, and 25-year-old Copperopolis resident, Donte Rashawn Turner, were both properly restrained and were transported via ambulance to Adventist Health Sonora to treat moderate injuries. 2-year-old Copperopolis resident, Abel William McCullough, was restrained in a forward-facing child passenger safety seat and was flown to Doctor’s Medical Center in Modesto to be treated for major injuries. The child passenger safety seat was found to have been improperly installed in the vehicle.

Road injuries are the leading cause of unintentional deaths to children in the United States. 3 out of 4 child passenger safety car seats are not used or installed correctly. Your Sonora Area CHP office has certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians/Officers available to inspect child seats as well as educate parents and caretakers on the proper installation and use of child passenger safety seats. Call to make your appointment, (209) 984-3944.

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