A Port Angeles man escaped serious injury after his car hit a tree in the 2000 block of Little River Road. (Clallam County Fire District No. 2)

A Port Angeles man escaped serious injury after his car hit a tree in the 2000 block of Little River Road. (Clallam County Fire District No. 2)

Port Angeles man suffers only minor injuries in wreck that ripped back side of car

PORT ANGELES — A 27-year-old Port Angeles man who was allegedly using his cellphone escaped serious injury after crashing his car into a tree.

Sergio Contreras-Guizar was cited for speeding too fast for conditions — a $136 traffic infraction — after suffering scrapes and bruises in the 6 p.m. Wednesday mishap in the 2000 block of Little River Road, Clallam County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brian King said Thursday.

King said Contreras-Guizar, driving a 2000 Nissan Maxima, was wearing a seat belt and also was protected by an air bag that deployed.

Drugs and alcohol were not factors, but a cellphone was, King said.

Contreras-Guizar was traveling eastbound on Little River Road and using his cellphone when he drifted into the eastbound lane after a vehicle passed him going westbound, King said.

“What function he was using, I do not know,” King said.

Contreras-Guizar overcorrected after the vehicle passed him, drifting across the eastbound lane and leaving the roadway, and collided with a tree, King said.

Contreras-Guizar had initially told authorities he had swerved to miss an oncoming vehicle and lost control, Clallam County Fire District No. 2 Assistant Chief Mike DeRousie said late Wednesday in a press release.

“The other vehicle had nothing to do with why the collision occurred,” King said.

Speed did not appear to be a factor, he added.

The infraction of use of a personal device while driving also carries a $136 fine, King said.

The infraction that Contreras-Guizar was cited for “was a better fit,” King said.

“This is a significant collision with a tree, and certainly he is lucky his injuries were extremely minimal,” King added.

The right front of Contreras-Guizar’s Nissan ripped off the vehicle, which spun 180 degrees after impact before stopping, DeRousie said.

“It broke the axle and peeled back the side of the car,” he said.

The driver had extricated himself by the time Fire District No. 2 emergency responders arrived.

________

Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

A man drops off his ballot this weekend in front of the Clallam County courthouse in Port Angeles. Dropboxes across Clallam and Jefferson counties will be open until 8 p.m. tonight. Go to www.peninsuladailynews.com for initial results. Election coverage will be in Thursday’s print edition. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Election day

A man drops off his ballot this weekend in front of the… Continue reading

Clallam last of its kind in nation

County has predicted president since 1980

Bruce Skinner. (Leah Leach/for Peninsula Daily News)
Skinner earns festivals association lifetime award

Veteran music festival organizer also inducted into Hall of Fame

Hood Canal Bridge closures set Thursday night

The Hood Canal Bridge on state Highway 104 will repeatedly… Continue reading

Decoy carver Ben Tyler, left, talks about the carvings he has on display to Brian Erickson, from Juneau, Alaska, during the Port Townsend Woodworkers Show at the Legion Hall in Port Townsend on Saturday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Decoy carvings

Decoy carver Ben Tyler, left, talks about the carvings he has on… Continue reading

About two dozen witches set off on the second annual Witches Paddle from Northwest Maritime to the Pourhouse pub on Saturday, a distance of half a mile. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Witches paddle

About two dozen witches set off on the second annual Witches Paddle… Continue reading

Jefferson commissioner to speak at Studium Generale East

Jefferson County commissioner Kate Dean will present “Small Town… Continue reading

Port Angeles City Council to meet Wednesday

The Port Angeles City Council will conduct public hearings… Continue reading

Cindy, left, and Alan Turner are selling Port Book and News after 38 years in business. The store has become a fixture in Port Angeles for its thoughtful selection of books, carefully curated gifts, exceptional customer service and community-minded spirit. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Book and News for sale after nearly 40 years

Store known for its curated selection of books, magazines

Family members of Ruth McCord celebrate the dedication of a park named after their mother’s legacy on Oct. 25. The future park, located near North Seventh Avenue and West Hendrickson Road, looks to honor the late Sequim resident’s wishes to offer a place for youngsters and the elderly alike. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim dedicates a new city park

Land to offer attractions for both youth, elderly

Operations scheduled at Bentinck range this week

The land-based demolition range at Bentinck Island will be… Continue reading

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading