CHP: Distracted-driving chain of crashes sends 2 children to hospital

A 20-year-old Hilmar woman was distracted Friday when she slammed into a minivan in front of her, setting off a chain of crashes involving three other vehicles and sending two children to hospitals with major injuries, according to authorities.

Savannah Gemperle was driving a 2011 Ford F-350 north on State Route 165 when she “was distracted and failed to notice the slowing-stopping traffic ahead of her,” Officer Moises Onsurez said in a statement.

It was unclear how fast Gemperle was driving when she struck the rear of a 2006 Honda Odyssey minivan driven by Craig McIntire, 53, of Turlock as she approached Bradbury Road just before 11 a.m.

McIntire and two children in the van were taken to hospitals, the CHP said.

A 13-year-old boy who was in the right rear seat of the van suffered critical injuries and was flown to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera. A 9-year-old girl who was in the van’s left rear seat was flown to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento with major injuries. McIntire was taken to Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock with minor injuries.

Because of the F-350’s momentum, the minivan was pushed forward and crashed into a 2014 Nissan Altima driven by Wesley Peterson of Hilmar. The Altima then struck a 2005 Chevy Silverado 2500 driven by 55-year-old Dennis Miguel of Hilmar, whose pickup then hit a 2012 Dodge Avenger driven by 47-year-old Linda Rosa Aguiniga of Hilmar.

Gemperle complained of pain but refused transportation to a hospital, Onsurez said.

Drugs and alcohol did not appear to have been factors in the crash, according to the statement. The crash remained under investigation Friday.

This story was originally published June 17, 2016 at 7:01 PM with the headline "CHP: Distracted-driving chain of crashes sends 2 children to hospital."