Woman Survives Ejection from 101 Rollover Accident
Driver Had Fallen Asleep While Headed Southbound on Friday Afternoon
CHP spokesperson Officer Dan Barba described Katrina Martin‘s relative lack of injuries “miraculous.” The 32-year-old Rancho Palos Verdes woman had not been wearing her seatbelt when the Toyota pickup she was riding in veered off the southbound 101’s right shoulder, overturned several times, ejected her through the sunroof, and finally slammed into a utility pole. In a written statement, Barba explained that the pickup’s driver, 33-year-old San Pedro resident Peter Joseph Rubino Jr., had fallen asleep around 3:30 Friday afternoon while driving in the leftmost lane. The vehicle struck the center divider, jolting Rubino awake and causing him to swerve across the all three highway lanes and then eventually roll.
Martin suffered minor lacerations to her legs and face. Rubino complained of pain in his knees.
Barba noted that alcohol was not a factor in the accident and pointed out that such minor injuries following ejection through a sunroof is rare. He reminded people to always buckle their seatbelts as they probably would not be a lucky as Katrina Martin.
