Update: 8 injured in Highway 46 crash east of Paso Robles

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Eight people sustained various injuries in a three-car traffic collision Saturday night on Highway 46, east of Paso Robles, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred on Highway 46 at River Grove Drive at 7:50 p.m. Saturday. Caltrans closed Highway 46 on westbound side for several hours.

Maria GarciaDeArteaga. 49, from Pahrump, Nevada, was the driver of a 2000 Honda CR-V with three passengers who were unrestrained.

GaricaDeArtega was driving southbound on River Grove Drive approaching Highway 46. Sara JuarezHaro, 24, of Tulare, was driving a 2017 Toyota Corolla westbound on Highway 46 approaching River Grove Drive.

As GarciaDeArtega entered Highway 46 about 20 mph, she failed to notice the Toyota heading westbound. GarciaDeArteaga’s Honda was struck on the driver side of her vehicle by the Toyota.

Mauro Jiminez was traveling westbound on Highway 46 in a 2007 Chevrolet Uplander approaching the crash at approximately 70 mph, and couldn’t avoid the Honda CR-V.



The resulting the spin-out caused the three unrestrained passengers to be ejected onto the roadway.



GarciaDeArteaga and her passengers in the Honda all sustained major to moderate injuries. Sara JuarezHaro and a passenger in the Toyota both sustained major injuries. GarciaDeArteaga was airlifted to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo. All the other victims were taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Jiminez and a passenger both sustained minor injuries and were transported to Twin Cities Community Hospital.



The CHP said that neither alcohol, drugs, or distracted driving were determined to have contributed to either crash.

The crash closed the westbound lanes of the highway for more than three hours. They reopened at 11:30 p.m.