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Monticello crash injures four
Emergency personnel work to clear the scene of a multiple vehicle accident on the 2900 block of Monticello Road, near Jarvis Winery. It was reported the blue car in the foreground, was trying to pass the Caltrans truck while crossing a double yellow line, when it struck another vehicle.
J.L. Sousa/Register | Buy photos
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CommentA Napa driver passing over a double-yellow line plowed head on into an oncoming car Thursday morning, injuring four people, one seriously.
The crash, which also involved a Caltrans truck, happened around 8:15 a.m. Thursday on Monticello Road (Highway 121) four miles north of Vichy Avenue.
The crash, which also involved a Caltrans truck, happened around 8:15 a.m. Thursday on Monticello Road (Highway 121) four miles north of Vichy Avenue.
The accident closed the highway for about two hours while crews carted off torn and twisted cars parts from the roadway.
Nataliya Kopilow, 30, of Napa was northbound up the hill when she attempted to pass a Caltrans three-axle dump truck pulling a trailer loaded with a tractor, California Highway Officer Jaret Paulson said.
Nataliya Kopilow, 30, of Napa was northbound up the hill when she attempted to pass a Caltrans three-axle dump truck pulling a trailer loaded with a tractor, California Highway Officer Jaret Paulson said.
When Kopilow crossed the double-yellow line into the southbound lane, her Ford Taurus slammed head on into a Dodge Dynasty driven by Chad Godoy, 31, of Woodland, Paulson said. “The Taurus then hit the Caltrans truck.”
Kopilow had two passengers — Benny Smith and a man identified only as Tom, both 62, of Napa. Kopilow and the men suffered moderate injuries, Paulson said.
Kopilow had two passengers — Benny Smith and a man identified only as Tom, both 62, of Napa. Kopilow and the men suffered moderate injuries, Paulson said.
Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to free the victims from the Taurus.
The driver of the Caltrans truck, Daniel Schnapp, 42, of Napa was not hurt, Paulson said.
Godoy suffered major injuries. An air ambulance was initially called to airlift Godoy from the scene, but was later canceled.
Emergency crews took all of the injured by ground ambulance to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, Paulson said.
“When I was at the hospital, Mr. Godoy was conscious and talking,” he said on Thursday afternoon. “When I left all the victims were still at the Queen.
“From what we have gathered so far, it looks as if none of the people in the Taurus were wearing seat belts,” Paulson said.
Paulson said it does not appear that alcohol played a part in the crash. “We will be investigating the driver of the Taurus for unsafe passing,” he said.
The driver of the Caltrans truck, Daniel Schnapp, 42, of Napa was not hurt, Paulson said.
Godoy suffered major injuries. An air ambulance was initially called to airlift Godoy from the scene, but was later canceled.
Emergency crews took all of the injured by ground ambulance to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, Paulson said.
“When I was at the hospital, Mr. Godoy was conscious and talking,” he said on Thursday afternoon. “When I left all the victims were still at the Queen.
“From what we have gathered so far, it looks as if none of the people in the Taurus were wearing seat belts,” Paulson said.
Paulson said it does not appear that alcohol played a part in the crash. “We will be investigating the driver of the Taurus for unsafe passing,” he said.
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sdnapa wrote on Jul 10, 2008 2:55 PM:
707jng wrote on Jul 10, 2008 3:09 PM:
I hope everyone recovers from their injuries soon!! "
MP wrote on Jul 10, 2008 3:22 PM:
realitybites wrote on Jul 10, 2008 3:24 PM:
SouthNapa wrote on Jul 10, 2008 4:51 PM:
Native74 wrote on Jul 10, 2008 4:55 PM:
do whats right wrote on Jul 10, 2008 5:42 PM:
as fast as we drive. Its tough to maintain the speed limit. Let alone be late for an appointment or other reasons. Hast makes waste. Ive seen some of the most
horrible accidents ever. I think if people
just put on there thinking caps before
they drive, it would provide safety for all.
"Hope all is WELL for" All "the people involved in that crash "D" "
msetty wrote on Jul 10, 2008 8:27 PM:
msetty wrote on Jul 10, 2008 8:29 PM:
Maya wrote on Jul 11, 2008 7:17 AM:
marine1/1 wrote on Jul 11, 2008 7:27 AM:
napachica wrote on Jul 11, 2008 8:20 AM:
ruiz94558 wrote on Jul 11, 2008 8:51 AM:
dominus wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:13 AM:
MarshaMarsha wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:20 AM:
Brown2008 wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:35 AM:
marine1/1 wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:57 AM:
csue wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:58 AM:
srnitnw wrote on Jul 11, 2008 10:45 AM:
ruiz94558 wrote on Jul 11, 2008 10:48 AM:
psychochik wrote on Jul 11, 2008 10:51 AM:
My well wishes to all the affected parties. This type of incident makes me dislike that road. Its a favorite of mine if I want some good switchbacks and a soothing pace, but people crossing over yellows cuz they blew a turn or because they want to pass make me nervous.
Is it winter yet ??? "
reason-ator wrote on Jul 11, 2008 11:04 AM:
Actually, I've seen about a hundred times more people who don't use the turn-outs than I have seen people passing on the double-yellow line. So we should take that $2500 and multiply it by 100 and then the $250,000 fine will be a suitable deterrent to people not pulling over.
But for the kid who left his popsicle wrapper on my lawn yesterday, I think $2500 is sufficient. Plus court costs, of course. "
y2kcbr wrote on Jul 11, 2008 11:18 AM:
- Your friends at Napa Co. ITS Dept. "
Two Cents wrote on Jul 11, 2008 1:12 PM:
NPD... why was the driver not arrested immediately for wreckless driving?? "
MOMMAD wrote on Jul 11, 2008 1:18 PM:
sdnapa wrote on Jul 11, 2008 2:16 PM:
Uncle Les wrote on Jul 11, 2008 2:52 PM:
Just heard the news.
We're thinking of you both. If you need anything, let us know. "
mytoosense wrote on Jul 11, 2008 4:37 PM:
LakeFamily wrote on Jul 11, 2008 5:44 PM:
reason-ator wrote on Jul 11, 2008 5:50 PM:
To the people whose lives were impacted in this accident, I assumed that it went without saying that people wish you well. I've been out of work for three months because of my own accident, so I indeed can sympathise with an injured party's plight. Sometimes, humor is my best medicine, and I'm sorry if my humor test was so poorly written that it caused some people to fail the humour test.
And of course, I apologize to all kids everywhere who may have been offended by my blog-brush categorization. I made up the part about the popsicle wrapper on my lawn. I was attempting to illustrate how some people over-react when something happens in their neighborhood that causes peple to lose perspective. "
Joe wrote on Jul 11, 2008 6:26 PM:
Suze wrote on Jul 11, 2008 7:23 PM:
This Caltrans driver was just doing his job in the right way. Sometimes you are behind a big rig on Monticello and there is nothing to be done, you know he/she doesn't like it either. Put on some music and chill. Most will turnout when they have a chance to do so. There are only a few turnouts on Monticello big enough to take this rig, obviously, she did not know where they are, or was not prepared to wait. "
great wrote on Jul 11, 2008 7:46 PM:
great wrote on Jul 11, 2008 8:59 PM:
sammy wrote on Jul 11, 2008 10:47 PM:
reason-ator wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:23 AM:
You are correct when you say that most of those turnouts are too small to fit into for a 3-axle truck pulling a long flatbed. And if you CAN get into one, by slowing down you've guaranteed that even MORE people will be stuck behind you soon because now you're going even slower.
Hearing the details of Mr. Godoy's injuries really drive home the consequences of dangerous driving so much more than just reading a simple standard two-word description that are usually in these sad articles ( rightly so, because of privacy concerns ), and I wish more people could be reached and impressed with how bad these things really are. Yet, the people who are always in such a frenetic hurry on the roads probably don't have time to read the paper, anyway. "
brown2008 wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:02 AM:
great wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:19 AM:
cagirl wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:42 PM:
Brown2008 wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:59 PM:
great wrote on Jul 12, 2008 11:15 PM:
tribal1 wrote on Jul 13, 2008 2:49 PM:
where is Kapilow ? has she inquired about Chad and his family? hope you recover quickly and that you surgeries are as successful as the last one. "
great wrote on Jul 13, 2008 4:17 PM:
PACO wrote on Jul 14, 2008 10:19 AM:
It is very sad on how this is going to impact him and his family. He was a person that commuted to work a hour one way a day, worked a 8 hour day, and then went home and worked at least another 4 hours minumum at the farm. To say the least he's a hard worker supporting his new family. "
great wrote on Jul 14, 2008 5:44 PM:
Paco you know him well. He does the work of many men to support his own.
Keep up the prayers. The updates will continue.
We live in Corona and have Backwoods BBQ willing to have a fund raiser for him. I will post the date and time. If you know any one down here please spread the word. Us your my space to get it out. whatever it takes.
Firegrl thank you for being a HERO!!!!! "
tribal1 wrote on Jul 14, 2008 7:17 PM:
NAPACHICA wrote on Jul 14, 2008 7:27 PM:
tribal1 wrote on Jul 15, 2008 6:31 PM:
how should we donate blood? i know myself, co-workers and my kids' daycare providers could donate blood but we are all from napa could arrangements be made for the health department or the red cross to get our blood and transport to Chad? i am sure others would be willing to help to if it were close enough to do during our lunch break. "
srnitnw wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:44 AM:
outdoorsman wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:52 PM:
This isn't about the Cal-Trans Truck. He did his job the way he should. He may have even saved lives that day! This is about the disreguard for human life that causes people to do dumb things that harm innocent people.
To Mr. Godoy and his family, My prayers are with you! "
ranchgirl wrote on Jul 22, 2008 10:12 PM:
srnitnw wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:38 AM:
The conversation about turnouts has nothing whatsoever to do with opinions about this particular accident. However, just as there is no excuse for crossing a double line or not being able to comprehend the six words a first grader could read "DO NOT CROSS A DOUBLE LINE", there is also no excuse for not utilizing turnouts or comprehending the four words "SLOWER TRAFFIC USE TURNOUTS." Again this has nothing to do with Chad's accident or excusing the other driver. I believe we are all entitled to use this forum to share our opinions and feelings and the subject just happens to naturally relate to this story.
Warm thoughts are with Chad and his family. "
kathy1771 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:06 AM:
Brown2008 wrote on Aug 6, 2008 6:33 PM: