Several crashes in South Lake Tahoe this weekend, including one involving pedestrian

First responders around the South Lake Tahoe area were kept busy over the weekend with collisions, a jet ski crash and a major incident involving a pedestrian and vehicle.

On Sunday, August 19 at 12:12 a.m., South Lake Tahoe fire and police departments responded to the intersection of Lake Tahoe Boulevard (Hwy 50) and Lakeview Avenue on the call of a pedestrian versus vehicle crash.

Upon arrival, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (STLFR) found a woman lying in the street showing signs of distress and leg trauma. She was taken by ambulance to the Lake Tahoe Airport and transported to Renown Medical Center in Reno by a Cal Star helicopter.

A vehicle driven by a 48-year-old South Lake Tahoe man had been headed eastbound in the #1 lane just above the speed limit, according to South Lake Tahoe Police Sgt. David Stevenson. He had a green light at the intersection and was going through it the same time a 29-year-old South Lake Tahoe woman was running across the five-lane road in a crosswalk against a red light, according to the police investigation. The driver slammed on his brakes but not before hitting the woman.

According to Stevenson the preliminary investigation shows the pedestrian is at fault. He said no drugs or alcohol appear to be an issue on the driver's part.

It is unknown at this time what the pedestrian's current condition is.

A short time later, at 1:44 a.m., SLTFR responded to the call of a car fire in the 3900 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd. The driver was experiencing car issues when he saw smoke coming out from under the hood. He pulled over and when SLTFR arrived there were flames coming out from the engine area.

Sunday at 1:40 p.m., police and fire responded to the beach area behind the Tahoe Beach Retreat where they found two men with leg injuries after a jet ski crash.
They were both transported to Barton Hospital. The cause is under investigation, but initial reports show two of the watercrafts collided near the pier.

Just seven minutes later, SLTFR responded to Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Los Angeles Avenue where they found a 33-year-old woman with injuries sustained in a scooter crash. She was transported to Barton Hospital. This is the fifth Lime Scooter crash that SLTFR has responded to this summer with three of those resulting in ambulance trips to the hospital.

But Sunday wasn't the only day SLTFR and SLTPD were kept busy this weekend.

On Friday, August 17 at 6:16 p.m. there was a three-car crash on Highway 50 in front of Margaritas Cafe just west of Sierra Blvd. Major damage to the vehicles and one person was transported to the hospital with injuries.

On Saturday, August 18, the "Jaws of Life" had to be used to get a 79-year-old South Lake Tahoe man out of his two-door Mustang after he was hit by a truck on Ski Run Boulevard at 9:48 a.m. SLTFR and SLTPD responded to the crash. The full-sized truck, being driven by a South Lake Tahoe man, had been driving on Tamarack Avenue when the driver pulled out onto Ski Run into the path of the Mustang, "t-boning" the Mustang and trapping the driver in his car. It is unknown if the truck stopped at the stop sign on Tamarack Avenue. The driver of the Mustang was transported to Barton Hospital.