Fatigued Drivers Crashes Into Tree In French Valley: Temecula CHP

FRENCH VALLEY, CA — A drowsy driver smashed into a tree late Monday west of Winchester Road in French Valley this week, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The crash occurred at 11:30 p.m. at Clinton Keith and Leon roads, where a driver of a black truck told officers they "fell asleep behind the wheel," according to the CHP.

The black sedan ended up in a tree, and the driver suffered minor injuries. No one else was involved in the crash, according to officials. DUI was not suspected in this incident.

Still, CHP officers added in an online report that "taking a quick nap behind the wheel is no joke."

Drowsy driving is similar to driving while intoxicated.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that roughly 91,000 police-reported crashes each year involve drowsy drivers. Those crashes lead to around 50,000 injuries and 800 deaths annually, according to the CHP.

Drowsy driving crashes frequently occur on rural roads and, highways such as the crash in French Valley.

They hit hardest between midnight and 6 a.m. or late afternoon when your body’s internal clock says it's time to sleep, according to the Temecula CHP.

"Driving fatigued slows your reactions, impairs decision-making, and can be as dangerous as driving impaired. You might not even realize you nodded off until it’s too late," they said. So, if you're feeling like your heavy eyes are drifting, pull over safely, rest or switch drivers."

Remember: Caffeine or loud music is a temporary band-aid — real sleep is the cure.

Stay alert, California. Drive rested, arrive alive.