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Traffic snarl causes backup
By Gloria I. Wang
A recent accident on Highway 17 held up traffic for hours and required the use of a helicopter ambulance to airlift an injured person.
Cars were at a complete standstill for more than an hour on Oct. 19 after three cars were involved in an accident on northbound Highway 17, just south of Bear Creek Road. CHP was notified of the accident at approximately 9:30 a.m., and closed lanes in both directions just after 10 a.m. as a precautionary measure for the helicopter landing.
A CALSTAR aircraft landed near the freeway to "life-lift" a driver who had suffered a major injury. The driver was in one of two vehicles in the fast lane that somehow collided, causing one to go over the embankment. A third car--on the right lane--went over the side of the road, breaking the driver's leg. No fatalities were reported. The helicopter took the victim to the Valley Medical Clinic.
CHP opened both lanes at 11:16. Traffic reportedly was backed up until almost noon.
CALSTAR, the California Shock/Trauma Air Rescue, is a nonprofit, Hayward-based program funded through corporate donations. CALSTAR has its own emergency personnel and crew. There are four helicopters, each located in a Northern California city, with Gilroy's CALSTAR II the closest to Los Gatos.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
