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Napa High teen killed on Lincoln Ave.
Saturday, June 12, 2004
By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer
A Napa teen died Friday morning when his brand new motorcycle plowed into a car on Lincoln Avenue, impaling the driver's side of the car.
The 16-year-old victim was identified as Napa High School student Nicholas Gruenhagen.
The driver of the Lincoln Town Car that collided with the bike, Analee Chambless of Napa, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Queen of the Valley Hospital, Sgt. John Kostelac said. Chambless lives in Napa.
"At this time, her injuries do not appear to be life threatening," Kostelac said on Friday afternoon. He added that Chambless, 69, suffered multiple lacerations on her face, wrist and upper torso.
The crash happened on Lincoln Avenue just east of Marin Street.
The impact of the crash pressed the Honda 600 F4 I motorcycle into the driver's seat and back door of the silver sedan. The bike still had the paper license plates of a new purchase on it.
Gruenhagen was thrown onto the hood of the car, where paramedics worked feverishly, administering first aid. Family members reached later in the day declined comment.
Chambless had to be removed through the passenger side of the car. As the ambulance rushed her to the emergency room, her purse and one shoe were left on the roadway next to the Town Car.
As of Friday afternoon, investigators were still trying to piece together what lead up to the fatality.
"All we know so far is that the motorcycle was eastbound on Lincoln Avenue from California Boulevard, and the driver of the sedan was leaving a business on Lincoln Avenue," Kostelac said. "We're not sure where her car was when the accident happened."
Lincoln Avenue was closed for a period as officers waited for the major traffic collision investigation team to get on scene.
"The motorcycle is still embedded into the side of the car," Kostelac said. "The team needs to take measurements before it can be removed."
The crash caused a traffic jam, and cars were re-routed around the crash scene from Lincoln Avenue to the neighboring residential streets.
This is the 13th fatal accident in Napa County this year, the second in Napa.
On Jan. 3, Darrell Dean Douglas, 57, of Napa was hit by a Napa teen driver as Douglas crossed in the middle of Soscol Avenue near Lincoln Avenue. Douglas, who was using a walker, was accompanied by a relative, police said. He died the next day at Queen of the Valley Hospital.
The teenage boy driving the car was not cited.
Anyone who witnessed today's crash or has any information is encouraged to call Sgt. Kostelac at 257-9554.