PLUMAS COUNTY, CA – An 18-year-old driver in Northern California miraculously survived a near-fatal crash Thursday morning when her Subaru was impaled by a guardrail along Highway 70 near Beckwourth Pass.
Amid hazardous conditions caused by an atmospheric river storm, the car lost control and veered into the barrier, which pierced through the driver’s side. Despite the severity of the impact, she escaped with only moderate injuries, including a broken rib. First responders described the outcome as remarkable, as the metal beam narrowly missed causing fatal harm.
Speaking from the hospital, the survivor recounted the terrifying moment, explaining how the guardrail’s force pushed her body forward rather than trapping her. She credited the vehicle’s interior paneling for helping absorb some of the impact but emphasized the need for improved road safety measures.
“They need to at least be bent into the ground so they can’t impale a vehicle,” she said, suggesting alternatives like sandbags to prevent similar incidents.
California Highway Patrol is investigating the Highway 70 crash while warning drivers to take extra precautions during extreme weather. The teen, expected to make a full recovery, acknowledged she likely won’t be traveling that stretch of road again.
