Subaru Driver Escapes After Car is Impaled Sideways by a Guardrail

      CHP Quincy

      Vehicles and guardrails are not a compatible combination—this is a well-known fact. Many of us have witnessed an instance where a driver strays too far from their lane and collides head-on with a guardrail. In such cases, these safety structures, which are meant to redirect vehicles and prevent them from going off the road, can paradoxically become a driver’s greatest threat. If you need evidence, look no further than the viral "car-on-a-stick" scenarios.

      However, this particular incident involving a Subaru driver in Quincy, California, stands out as they managed to have a sideways encounter and lived to share their experience.

      Last week, the California Highway Patrol office in Quincy urged drivers in Lassen County (northwest of Reno) to reduce their speed and be vigilant for icy patches. This advisory followed a series of incidents where drivers crossed over lane dividers and crashed into guardrails during winter conditions. One such event involved a 19-year-old passenger in a Subaru whose Outback swerved enough for the guardrail to penetrate the driver’s side door panel. It then collided with both front seats before the vehicle came to a stop with the guardrail pressing against the inside of the passenger door.

      CHP Quincy

      The CHP Quincy office initially reported the crash on Thursday morning, noting it caused “significant damage to the road infrastructure” and advising residents to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary to travel. The driver was “miraculously” taken to the nearby Renown Medical Center with only moderate injuries, as stated in a later update from the department.

      It turns out she wasn’t the final casualty of the late-week ice storms in Northern California. Early Sunday, another driver lost control and struck a guardrail in the same area. Similar to the initial driver, he emerged from the incident largely unharmed. According to comments on CHP Quincy’s post, the driver of the Ram in this incident may have dozed off while driving.

      Stay safe out there, everyone.

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