Napa Woman Injured in Three-Car Collision

A woman was injured Monday in result of a three-vehicle collision on westbound Interstate 80, interrupting traffic for miles in Vacaville.

A Nissan Pathfinder driven by Gina Johnstone, 24, of San Jose slowed to match the traffic flow which began slowing around 2 p.m. on the freeway just west of Cherry Glen Road, officials said. Johnstone’s car was hit from behind by a black 2002 Lexus sedan driven by Reynaldo Cardenas, 70, of Vacaville, who then flew into an adjacent lane and spun out.

Denise Faria, 51, of Napa, apparently waited to long to begin and slow and pressed her breaks hard at the last minute, sending her 2007 Harley Davidson flying past her husband’s bike, who had slowed appropriately. She reportedly then struck the Lexus and was ejected into a slow lane.

Faria suffered a leg injury in the accident and was airlifted by CALSTAR to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. She was listed in serious condition Monday night. Neither Johnstone nor Cardenas were injured.

All westbound lanes were briefly closed as emergency personnel responded to the scene. The two fast lanes were reopened shortly after 2:30 p.m.