The California Highway Patrol reports an accident on Pleasant valley Rd. just north of SR-20 at 11p.m. last night resulted in serious injury to the driver. 27 year old Chris Panks (Mulligan) was was driving his 2004 Nissan Maxima sedan southbound on Pleasant Valley Rd. approaching State Highway 20 afer being involved in an altercation. Panks was driving at an unsafe and extremely high rate of speed. He was not wearing a seat belt.

As Panks attempted to navigate a left curve, his vehicle lost traction with the roadway and proceeded off the west road edge where it overturned. The vehicle overturned multiple times through the brush and then continued across State Route 20. As the vehicle continued to overturn across SR-20, Panks was ejected out of the vehicle onto the roadway, causing major injuries. The vehicle came to rest on the south shoulder.

Witnesses driving westbound on SR-20 observed the collision and stopped to render aid. The sole passenger in the vehicle a 19 year old woman from Penn Valley had been wearing a seat belt and received only minor injuries. Witnesses blocked traffic to protect Panks from further injury and also assisted the woman out of the vehicle. Penn valley Fire personnel responded to the scene along with CHP. Panks was transported from the scene to Western Gateway Park where he was flown by helicopter air ambulance to Sutter Roseville medical Center.

A subsequent investigation determined Panks was driving under the influence of alcohol, causing the collision. He was arrested at the scene and later released to the hospital for emergency medical treatment. SR-20 was closed for approximately 20 minutes while emergency crews worked in the roadway. Limited traffic control was then in effect for approximately 30 more minutes while debris was cleared from the roadway.