South Lake Tahoe, CA…This morning at about 9:25am, officers responded to the intersection of Emerald Avenue and Garmish Court, in the Tahoe Keys, to investigate the report of a van having collided with several parked vehicles. Officers discovered the driver of a white Chem-Dry Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning services van from Gardnerville Nevada was stopped in the area. The 67 year old driver was semi-conscious and still behind the wheel. The driver appeared to be suffering an medical emergency, and did not appear to have been injured as a result of the collisions. Investigating officers determined that the driver had sideswiped 6 parked vehicles; three on Kokanee Avenue and three others on Emerald Avenue after he had turned a corner at the intersection. The parked cars sustained only minor damage, as the collisions were low-speed.

Medic personnel responded and immediately transported the driver to Barton Memorial Hospital, where CalStar then flew him to the Renown medical center in Reno for treatment. The driver will not be found in violation of a vehicle code offense as it appears this event was precipitated by a medical emergency over which the driver had no control.