Ranger Escapes Injury In Head-On Collision

Ranger Terry Swift was heading southbound in his patrol vehicle on Highway 1 between Stinson Beach and the Muir Beach overlook on the afternoon of January 3rd when he was struck head-on by a 16-year-old who was headed north in a sedan at a high rate of speed. The driver, who was operating on a provisional license and had three passengers in his car, failed to negotiate a sharp curve, slamming into Swift’s cruiser and causing both vehicles’ airbags to deploy. Swift was able to exit his pickup and summon assistance; the four occupants of the car were also able to get out of their vehicle. Swift was taken to a medical facility in Novato for observation and later released. The driver of the car suffered a broken ankle. The size and weight of Swift’s Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup, together with airbags and seatbelts, played a significant role in his escaping without injury and in preventing both cars from going over the coastal cliffs along the highway. This was the 16-year-old’s second accident. The investigation was done by the California Highway Patrol.