Coulterville, CA…On Friday, April 7th, at approximately 11 am, 28 year old Ricardo Gonzalez was driving a 2004 Toyota Camry southbound on State Route 49 south of Coulterville, during a heavy downpour. Due to the unsafe speed for the wet weather conditions, Gonzalez ran off of the west road edge and down a very steep embankment. The Camry rolled several times until coming to rest on the drivers side, 800 feet down, at the bottom of the hillside. Gonzalez and two out of the three passengers were able to get out of the vehicle and climb up to the road for help. 33 year old Jaime Vidalez was left behind in the car with a possible broken leg.

Emergency personnel trekked down to rescue Vidalez and found that he had self extricated and climbed approximately 30 feet up. Mariposa Search and rescue assisted in bringing Vidalez up to the ambulance. 30 year old Walter Menendez and 27 year old Jose A. Cortez sustained moderate head injuries. Gonzalez sustained minor injuries. All four were transported by ground ambulance to Modesto Memorial Hospital. They are residents from Texas, Washington, and New Jersey staying in Sonora while they work clearing dead trees.