Sacramento, CA : Woman arrested after Highway 118 crash that sparked fire on Sunday, July 16, 2017

A woman was arrested Saturday evening on suspicion of DUI after a solo vehicle crash that sparked a brush fire in Simi Valley, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A 55-year-old Simi Valley woman was arrested shortly after 8:53 p.m. when the CHP received reports of a vehicle that struck a guard rail along westbound Highway 118 west of Rocky Peak Road, officials said.

According to CHP officials, the woman was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle that struck the guard rail and left the roadway. The vehicle traveled 150 to 200 feet into a ditch and her vehicle was engulfed in flames, officials said.

The driver was able to pull herself out of the vehicle with major injuries, including a nasal fracture and abrasions, officials said.

Authorities reported that an ambulance was first at the scene and transported the woman to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills where she was released from custody, officials said.

CHP officials said samples were obtained to determine the woman's blood alcohol content and would later forward the results to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office to determine if any charges would be filed.

The woman remained at the hospital in stable condition as of Sunday morning, officials said.

The incident started a brush fire on the hillsides along westbound Highway 118, officials said.

Units from the Ventura and Los Angeles county fire departments responded to the incident along with the CHP, Caltrans and Simi Valley Police Department personnel.

Officials said the fire spread rapidly up the hillsides forcing the closure of the right two lanes of the highway for several hours before all lanes were reopened as of 4 a.m.

The fire was knocked down just before 12:30 a.m. at more than 7 1/2 acres in size though fire personnel battled a flare up at 3:21 a.m., officials said.

The last unit cleared the scene at 11:40 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Source :
Woman arrested after Highway 118 crash that sparked fire