Kern Valley Sun
Last Thursday at about 2:15 p.m., Jimmy Guinn,77, of Yorba Linda, was driving eastbound on Hwy. 155, on a 13 percent downhill grade descending from Greenhorn Summit, when the brakes on his 32-foot Coachman motor home overheated. The 2004 Saturn Vue that Guinn was towing only compounded the problem‚ adding more weight and more momentum. By the time Guinn approached the intersection of Hwy. 155 and Wofford Blvd. in Wofford Heights, his brakes were useless.
According to CHP reports, Guinn, accompanied by his 78-year-old wife, Beatrice, attempted to turn left from Hwy. 155 into the westbound lane of Wofford Blvd. “He knew he wasn’t going to make it, so he just laid on his horn to warn people,” said Carol Putman of Lake Isabella, who was driving eastbound on Wofford Blvd. and barely missed what could have been a deadly collision. “That man is such a hero. He saved my life. If he hadn’t blown his horn like that, I’d have been killed.” Putman said.
  
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Beatrice Guinn was wearing her seat belt and not ejected. The extent of her injuries was described by paramedics on scene as, “A slight laceration on her pinky finger.” She was transported to Kern Valley Hospital as a precaution.
Sasha Cohen, of Wofford Heights, heard the wreck from across the street and confirmed the description of Guinn’s heroic efforts. “He saved everybody’s life.”
According to Putman, Guinn told her that he and his wife were returning from a Christian girls conference in Fresno when they decided to take Hwy. 155 over the Greenhorn Summit. “He’d never driven that road before,” Putman said.
“He should have used low gears,” said CHP Office Jeremy Mullen. Fellow Officer Dugan Whisler added, “He is a very lucky man.”
Luther Stevens, General Manager of Kern River Outfitters commented, “We were very lucky that no one was in the building at the time of the accident. Our guides were all out rafting with guests and our office staff weren’t scheduled to arrive until later.”
Knowing the extent of damage to the vehicles and the building itself, Stevens was amazed that the occupants of the motor home sustained only minor injuries. He expressed his gratefulness for all of the other rafting companies who quickly called with offers of assistance. Fortunately Kern River Outfitters was able to get back to business as usual without missing a beat. “Right now, my main responsibility is to continue running our rafting trips on the Lower Kern as usual until the end of August.“
Editor's note: The Guinn's daughter, Carol Thompson, posted a comment (below), with an update on her parents' condition (they're doing 'remarkably well') and thanking all who came to their aid and assistance.
In covering the accident and speaking with witnesses at the scene, or those who saw the aftermath of wreckage and ruin, 'It's a miracle' was a phrase heard over and over again. To Jimmy and Beatrice - best wishes for a speedy recovery, from the Sun staff.
Comments
22 comment(s)Peg wrote on Aug 19, 2009 4:01 PM:
Ann wrote on Aug 10, 2009 8:48 PM:
Safe Driver wrote on Aug 10, 2009 8:36 PM:
Please Remember wrote on Aug 10, 2009 5:43 PM:
Ann wrote on Aug 9, 2009 6:49 PM:
Terry Day wrote on Aug 9, 2009 3:21 PM:
Ann wrote on Aug 7, 2009 9:48 PM:
We the people..... wrote on Aug 6, 2009 10:51 PM:
Is the glass half-empty....?
Always 2 sides to a story...which do you choose in this case...the positive....or the negative? "
To Terry wrote on Aug 4, 2009 12:29 PM:
Terry Day wrote on Aug 4, 2009 10:45 AM:
He's not a hero, he's an idiot that endangered the lives of many through his inattentive driving.
When I first saw that the driver had been "hailed as a hero", I was shocked to say the least.
When he started smelling his brakes, why didn't he pull over and let them cool off? "
Safe driver wrote on Aug 3, 2009 10:15 PM:
Becky wrote on Aug 1, 2009 6:43 PM:
Hank wrote on Aug 1, 2009 5:07 PM:
I am not surprised that non locals run into trouble on that road. I haven't been there for a while, but I doubt they have posted large signs about using low gears. I believe more graphic signs, like at the beginning of the canyon about swimming, should be placed on this route. "
root cause wrote on Aug 1, 2009 11:42 AM:
Becky wrote on Jul 31, 2009 7:35 AM:
kv res wrote on Jul 30, 2009 6:39 PM:
Safe and rude driver wrote on Jul 30, 2009 6:00 PM:
Have you ever made a mistake? Wow, must be wonderful to be you.
And yes, this man IS a hero, and you are just sad. "
Someone who knows them wrote on Jul 30, 2009 2:37 PM:
Warren Roberts wrote on Jul 30, 2009 1:48 PM:
Safe driver wrote on Jul 30, 2009 12:00 PM:
Carol Thompson wrote on Jul 29, 2009 7:27 PM:
julie b wrote on Jul 29, 2009 1:20 PM: