Accident in Front of CHP Office in Redway

Crash-RedwayCHP

CHP officers investigate the accident. [Photo provided by Garth Epling.]

At approximately 1:12 p.m., one vehicle smashed into the rear of another at the corner of West Coast Road and Redwood Drive–right in front of the California Highway Patrol station. One lane was temporarily closed but the roadway is now cleared.

UPDATE 5/18: More photos by Jacob Whitney.

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19 Comments
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Ernie Branscomb
Guest
8 years ago

When the CHP office was built they were supposed to have put a turn lane in for West Coast Road. Instead of putting in a turn lane they reduced the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph, which became a real lose, lose situation and the rear enders have continued. I’ve been to many, many bad accidents there.

It is the most hazardous location on Redwood Drive. A simple turn lane would have eliminated most of the accidents. It is a real sad situation when the agency in charge of traffic safety can be the biggest problem.

Julia
Guest
Julia
8 years ago

First of all, the CHP doesn’t build roads, so when you say “they were supposed to put a turn lane in” I can only assume you are talking about Public Works and/or CalTrans. So I’m confused as to how CHP is at fault for this poor road design.

Secondly, if people actually did 35 through that area, that would drastically reduce issues. The idea of people doing 45 through that area, which frequently has pedestrians, is frightful. As far as I’m concerned, it is still an “in town area” and should have a traffic slowing design.

Lastly, I make that left turn on to West Coast road daily at a minimum, and it seems to me that if there was at least enough room to pass on the right without going off the shoulder, that would address a lot of the traffic obstacles that lead to collisions in that area.

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago
Reply to  Julia

Technically it’s illegal to pass on the right there, but I see people do it regularly.

August West
Guest
August West
8 years ago

I would venture to say that the PGE/Renner turnoff is the most dangerous point on Redwood Drive.

Julia
Guest
Julia
8 years ago
Reply to  August West

August West, I would agree that the Renner/PGE turn is frightfully dangerous as well.

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago
Reply to  August West

I’ve seen several wrecks at the Renner/Caltrans turnoff, including my wife who was seriously rear-ended there by a speeder who was talking to her friends in the car and took her eyes off the road. The speed limit there is 55mph.

Ralph
Guest
Ralph
8 years ago

The ability to drive at a safe speed with regard to signs and common sense lies with the driver. Never was there an agreement that a left turn lane would be placed at that intersection. The only controversy was over the information signs posted at either approaches to the intersection. Redwoods Rural felt their lettering was too small and should be as large as the CHP’s.

Mistaken
Guest
Mistaken
8 years ago

Not completely true. Intersection is not bad design. That is a straight stretch of roadway that travels down hill with an appropriate speed limit. The speed limit is not the problem. The lose, lose situation you are talking about is the inattention of the drivers. Almost all of these collisions are caused by drivers not paying attention to stopped traffic and plowing into the rear of these vehicles.

Your statement eludes that the CHP is responsible for no turn lane there. That is a sad assumption, the county road department is responsible for traffic design. CHP can only make recommendations. The real blame for these crashes are driver inattention. Check the statics.

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Thoughtful but, continual inattention, maybe there should be a continual yellow flashing light. Most likely cheaper than widening the road and it could be solar-battery powered.

Tulip Torpedo
Guest
Tulip Torpedo
8 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

This is a good idea. Maybe lights in the road that flash 300 yards from intersection that go on when cars are at stop sign.

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

It’s one of those squeaky wheel gets the grease situations—unless enough people bring pressure on the county the project will never get on the to-do list and funded.

Anna Rogers
Guest
Anna Rogers
8 years ago

I think a turn lane would solve the problem of inattention and the speed limit being too low. Possibly even a traffic light. Also sidewalks for said pedestrians.

I frequently find myself the only person on the road at the moment attempting to travel at 35 mph in that spot with numerous cars tailgating me. I don’t travel 35 because I feel it’s the safe speed, but because it’s the posted limit. I feel a higher limit would be perfectly safe, IF there’s a turning lane. Also, cars planning on turning into West Coast Road need to be signaling an appropriate amount of time before the turn. I definitely have witnessed more than one car throwing on their turn signal at the last minute, causing cars behind them to unsafely brake.

Janet
Guest
Janet
8 years ago

I think there should be a turn lane there. Back when RRHC was built, there was a lot of concern and discussion but for some reason (money?) the lane was never added. I also think the speed limit sign coming out of Garberville towards Redway should be moved further away from Garberville.

Charlotte
Guest
Charlotte
8 years ago

I live on West Coast. People leaving Redway drive too fast down the road, and people entering Redway ignore the 35 mile an hour sign. If I am turning left onto Redway Drive from west coast road, I feel as though I am taking chances while I dodge the people who NEVER slow down!

Rose Dawn
Guest
Rose Dawn
8 years ago

No pictures of the other vehicle? The one that smashed into the small car?

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
8 years ago

More explanation on the turn lane. The construction of the building required a “use permit”. Sewer, water, fire, health, public utilies and all other requirements need to be satisfied before a building before a construction project can be started. “Somehow” the permit requirement for the turn lane got satisfied by reducing the speed limit. An extremly poor decision! It was the subject of much controversy at the time. People were rightfully upset. Including me. How about you? Were you there?

Tulip Torpedo
Guest
Tulip Torpedo
8 years ago

CHP should move to a more access able location. We are really lucky no one has been killed. I would bet if a property owner wanted to put in a driveway the way West Coast RD enters RRHC regulations would not allow it . There really is no room. CHP needs a better location.

0LDMANWHOSTUMBLESINTHEWOODS
Guest
0LDMANWHOSTUMBLESINTHEWOODS
8 years ago

I HATE TO SAY IT BUT THE BOTTOM OF ALDERPOINT ROAD ISANOTHER BAD SPOT… JUST A TOTAL FATAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN… BAD DESIGN ALL THE WAY AROUND, TERRIBLE VISIBILITY…. MY SOLUTION? SLOOOOOW WAAAAY DOWN….. WHEN I TURNLEFT INTO RENNER, I TAP MY BRAKES ABOUT A MILLION TIMES, TURN SIGNAL ONWAAAY IN ADVANCE, ARM STRAIGHT OUT THE WINDOW, STILL IVE ALMOST BEE CLOBBERED BY MINDLESS MYOPIC DRIVERS…. AND……………ON THE POSITIVE SIDE. ……ISNT IT NICE TO HAVE THE BLUFFS OPEN,? SO WE CAN GET ”THERE ”FASTER THAN EVER? GREAT SPEEDY JOB ESTELL, LOVE THE WAY YOUR ”TAKIN CARE OF BUSINESS” DOWN IN SOOOHUUUM..I WONDER HOW MANY MILLIONS IN COMMERCE WERE LOST IN THAT WAAAAAY TOOOOO LOOOONG CLOSURE, HOW MANY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF FUEL WERE SPENT, ???? ‘ ‘GOING AROOOOOND THE BLUFFS.”..SEEMS THE ”GITTERDONE” ATTITUDE OF THE WWII LOGGIN CREW IS JUST ABOUT A GONNER….. THEYDA HAD THE ROAD OPEN IN AN HOUR OR LESS, GIVE SOMEBODY A JOB TWO BOOT…., STAND THERE ALL NIGHT WITH A LIGHT AND A RADIO, OH, AND A LOADER….. GREAT TO SEE THE CO. RODCREW,
GOT THOSE TWO CULVERTS REPLACED IN THE CLOSURE TIME…. NOTHIN LIKE COORDINATION….. THANKS I FEEL MUCH BETTER NOW.
‘ BLUFFS’? WHAT BLUFFS?