[UPDATE 8:37 a.m.] 101 Completely Blocked by Dean Creek

Traffic Collision Car AccidentHwy 101 is blocked by multiple traffic collisions just south of the Dean Creek exit. This stemmed from a vehicle accident about 6:39 a.m. and then there were several following crashes that blocked all four lanes.

Traffic is being diverted through Garberville and Redway so expect Redwood Drive to be extra busy with confused drivers from the 101.

UPDATE: Photos provided by Saddlepaw Media.Tree accident road blocked Tree accident road blocked Tree accident road blocked Tree accident road blocked
UPDATE 7:58 a.m.: The estimated time of reopening is quarter to nine according to the California Highway Patrol Incident page. A 6 foot in diameter tree is crossing the road. There are multiple vehicles crashed into it.

UPDATE 8:37 a.m.: According to Caltrans spokesperson Eli Rohl, the highway is now open.

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55 Comments
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Neighbor
Guest
Neighbor
7 years ago

Blocked by Dean Creek! My first thought was a flood.

I hope all the folks are ok.

Joe
Guest
Joe
7 years ago
Reply to  Neighbor

Same here.

Hick
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Hick
7 years ago

Wow! Update ASAP.

Macalister Crowl
Guest
Macalister Crowl
7 years ago

Godspeed, folks.

Me
Guest
Me
7 years ago

I live on the hill across from the accident. I heard the tree come down in the dark, not knowing it fell on the highway, and a little while later the impact of the cars. I hope everyone is ok!

??
Guest
??
7 years ago

Text reads a little awkwardly…

did collision stem.. “from a vehicle crashing (into a tree?) About 6:39 a.m..” ?

Joe
Guest
Joe
7 years ago
Reply to  ??

Yes gotta look at the pictures to put it together.

Cindy miller
Guest
Cindy miller
7 years ago
Reply to  ??

It looks like it started from a tree that fell onto the hiway? Someone posted that it looked like it started from just a car accident. Im having problems with (my cell, internet, service???) Trying to read other posts, so i didnt see Kyms comment til i posted this.

ClassWarrior
Guest
ClassWarrior
7 years ago

What happened? It looks like either a traffic collision, a landslide, or a War of the Ents. The only clear info in the article is the location.

Did you skip your coffee this morning, Kym?

Reality Check
Guest
Reality Check
7 years ago
Reply to  ClassWarrior

Seriously, did you skip good manners and appreciation of this news source in your comment?

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

You are a rockstar!!!

Dan Fuller
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Dan Fuller
7 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

Absotively posolutely she certainly is!!!!

Phineas Homestone
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Phineas Homestone
7 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

Thanks Kym for all you do for the community!

BonnieBlueSky
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BonnieBlueSky
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Gratitude to you for all that you bring us, Kym, and kudos for your good manners too.

Lisa
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Lisa
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Thanks Kym! You rock!

TBL
Guest
TBL
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

You, my dear, are awesome! Thank you for being such an awesome reporter!

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
7 years ago
Reply to  TBL

My manners have improved just from going on these blogs!

Deborah Hill Holberg
Guest
Deborah Hill Holberg
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Way to go Kym Kemp

Christal
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Christal
7 years ago

Luckily that tree is rotten!

Ullr rover
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Ullr rover
7 years ago

Don’t piss off the trees.

G-MAS
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G-MAS
7 years ago

Oh my,I’m praying for everyone,to be ok.their might be a lot of those rotten trees.be alert be safe all.

Veterans friend
Guest
Veterans friend
7 years ago

Slow down folks. 5 mph for dark & another 5 mph for rain or wet road….

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
7 years ago

I think unless the tree hit them they were driving too fast for road conditions, because they hit the tree it’s there fault and they all get a ding on their driving records.

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
7 years ago

Open the flute on your stove earnie, the soot is getting to you, you don’t get “dinged” for natural disasters, floods or anything else Mother Nature throws our way, if you do you’re getting a bad deal and wrong insurance company.
Go see flo

CnD
Guest
CnD
7 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

They should get dinged by their insurance companies! One shouldn’t be driving so fast that they can’t stop for a tree across the road, even if it is dark and raining. Why should I pay higher rates due to others who can’t drive safely.

judi
Guest
7 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

a tree falling on you is an AOG.
a tree falling on the road and then-after being run into by vehicles is not gonna be an AOG.

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
7 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

I prefer that Gecko.

i was wondering if someone slipped kym decaf too
Guest
i was wondering if someone slipped kym decaf too
7 years ago

No one is getting a “ding” unless they make a claim with their insurance companies which in single car collisions many avoid. Only then will finding “fault” be at issue. Any police reports generated will likely report facts only and not be concerned with assessing liability simply noting”act of God” or “liability inconclusive ” .

The DMV dings come with ACTUAL VIOLATIONS for speeding, DUI, and collisions where u are found more than 50% at fault. Not assumptions made by arm chair accident reconstructionists.
Don’t quit your day job.

And to the self important prissy pants “reality check” who accuses people of “bad manners” for giving feedback on readability : really?

Annonymous
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Annonymous
7 years ago

Rotten tree fills with water and most likely fell onto the highway directly in front of oncoming cars. JMO

Treeware
Guest
Treeware
7 years ago

Why would they get dinged for hitting the tree, Ernie? It was an accident and it was dark. If a tree falls on you, you can’t exactly avoid it! I don’t think their driving records should be dinged for that.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
7 years ago
Reply to  Treeware

Treeware, i’m sorry to be argumentative. But read Ernie’s comment. He did say, “unless the tree fell on them.” In other words, obviously they couldn’t be blamed if it came down upon them.
But there is a law right there in the DMV handbook–or there was when i learned to drive, eons ago–that the only true law of speed limits is that you have to go slow enough for the road conditions. Also, you must not “overdrive your headlights”–that is, you must go slowly enough to be able to see anything in front of you in time to stop.

Now granted, people usually do not drive this way–they don’t drive as if they expect to come upon a fallen tree in the dark. I myself tend to go that slowly, always conscious that a deer might jump out, or be lying there suffering on the pavement–and i want to be able to stop in the distance between where i saw it, and where it is. Of course, other drivers hate my style and ride my bumper or pass me in anger, or more peaceably if i pull over for them, which i try to do.

But, just saying, Ernie is right. Though i don’t know about dings on driving records… just in principle, it’s your job to stop before you hit an obstacle.

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
7 years ago
Reply to  lauracooskey

“Earnie is right, though I don’t know about dings on driving records”
Yea that makes a whole lotta sense…

We only get dinged if we are proven at “fault” of causing the accident.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
7 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

I meant i agree with the first part of Ernie’s statement, but don’t know about the second part. Thanks.

Fortunate Tobehere
Guest
Fortunate Tobehere
7 years ago
Reply to  lauracooskey

We were on our way home from our Grandson’s High School Soccer game. My husband was driving 30 to 35 mph in a 55 mph speed limit. It was pouring down rain, and very dark. The car behind us was on our butt so much ay one point I was going to tell my husband to pull over and let him pass us. There isn’t any where to pull over except a few places and they are few and far between. We came up over a hump in the road and before we knew it there was a hugh Oak tree was covering both lanes about fifty feet in front of us. My husband applied the breaks, but there wasn’t enough time to stop. We just knew we were going to die. It took aprox. 45 minutes for fire rescue crews to cut the tree off our truck so we could get out. We were NOT hurt >>>Thank You Lord. The chp officer told us as well as fire and rescue and others…. We are very LUCKY to be alive. Had my husband been driving any faster we would be dead. My husband drives SLOW some say …slow as a snail. I’m so grateful he was driving that night. Our F150 is toast…But we are alive and Grateful. Had we pulled over to let the tailgater pass us… He would have more then likely died on impack, He was driving a small sports car. Our truck went up over some of the limbs on the road..a small car would not be able to do that. The tree was totaly wraped around our truck we stopped with in an inch of the limbs comming through the windshild. Now you say it is the drivers fault …well according to the CHP yes you are right you should only drive as fast as the conditions allow …The CHP said if you hit a deer that runs in front of your vehicle ….It is your fault. I think that law needs to change. Because if your driving under the speed limit you can get a ticket ….. if you have so many cars behind you. Well what if there is no where to pull over so cars can pass you? There is aprox. maybe 4 areas you can pull over (without tearing up your undercage,bumper,talepipe,tranny,ect,ect.) to let someone pass on this Hwy. CHP said you don’t get a ticket. And it depends on your insurance if you get a ding. Try putting yourself in that situation before runnung your mouth off….If you don’t have anything nice to say…. SAY NOTHING !

G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
7 years ago

I’m still hoping to find out if everyone is ok.can you all imagine coming around a corner in the dark AND BAM hit a tree in the middle of the road,wholly shit,or your just driving along and BAM a tree hits you,either way wholly shit!!It’s not like we don’t live surrounded by trees.and their big suckers!!please be safe ALL

Jack J
Guest
Jack J
5 years ago
Reply to  G-MAS

Hello G-Mas, I was the first driver to hit that tree that morning. I am fine, few broken fingers and yes it is impossible to see a tree laying on the roadway, I attempted to stop, but was not able to, I was the first vehicle to hit the tree, and then was hit by 2 other vehicles.

Taurus Balzhoff
Guest
Taurus Balzhoff
7 years ago

Tree fell in road. Many cars involved. Yikes! Hope everyone is well!

Non-Local Union Professional
Guest
Non-Local Union Professional
7 years ago

‘THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN’ in coming years, ‘WILL NOT HAPPEN!’ With Trump as Precedent (yep!) he will ‘CUT DOWN ALL THE TREES!’ within 5 miles of a roadway, to prevent this kinda thingy. And yes, the trees will be donated to industry. (If The Don thinks longer, he will determine that smashed cars and people going to hospitals are both ‘GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY!’ Stay tuned…..).

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
7 years ago

A genuine “Jumping Redwood” playing dead!!!!

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
7 years ago

I don’t know about the insurance part of it but I was told that even if your vehicle is hit by someone or something else, in the middle of the night, while you’re sleeping, you get a ding on your driving record!!! Admittedly this was a LOT of years ago, so I don’t know if it’s still the case!!!

Hooktender
Guest
Hooktender
7 years ago
Reply to  Dan Fuller

If your car is sitting your yard and a tree falls and hits it, it goes on your comprehensive insurance, not your collision insurance. Therefore there will be no “ding on your insurance.
I have had many claims on my comprehensive insurance with no repercussions.
Just this year I have had two comprehensive claims.I was removing the grader blade from my Kubota and it rolled down the hill into my truck. Another, I was loading my side by side into the truck and tail gate collapsed.Both claims totaled over $20k and since I have $0 deductible comprehensive, insurance paid for all of it and my rates stayed the same.

Sparklemahn
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Sparklemahn
7 years ago
Reply to  Hooktender

Good info. Thanks.

Covelo or busted
Guest
Covelo or busted
7 years ago

Rotten Douglas Fir loosened by earthquake, rain , wind, should have been cut down ALOOOONG time ago! Hope everyone is ok.

Shaka
Guest
Shaka
7 years ago

Covelo is right all the dead trees should be cut down!

Tony
Guest
Tony
7 years ago

A redwood tree in a redwood grove in the dark is pretty good camouflage.

William Shakespeare
Guest
7 years ago

Drove bye on the way to work this morning. I must have just missed it. My lucky day, going to bye some lottery tickets when I get off work.

Covelo or busted
Guest
Covelo or busted
7 years ago

SHAKA….. Nope, all dead trees should KNOT be removed, only dead/ dying trees hang-out -over- along roadways. Dead trees hold a huge place in the eco system. Huge habitat….Its amazing that people living here not only dont know locol trees, dont even know a Redwood from a Douglas-Fir. Kinda sad… OY VEY!

Shaka
Guest
Shaka
7 years ago

I meant all dead trees by roadways I Will be more specific next time…all good!

FORG
Guest
FORG
7 years ago

Simply, 22350 CVC – Driving too fast for conditions, aka unsafe speed. Doesn’t matter if you’re going 10 mph, if you cannot avoid something stationary in front of you, you’re going too fast with a related cause of inattention. And yes, your insurance company will “ding” you and rightfully so.

Shak
Guest
Shak
7 years ago

Oh wow! They were really fortunate limbs or hoods didn’t come through the windshields into them. Thankfully it was a soft redwood type tree that gave somewhat upon impact. I hope everyone is okay.

xray
Guest
xray
7 years ago
Reply to  Shak

was a rotten doug fir, see the bark? i do think about this scenario at times, sobering…

Covelo or busted
Guest
Covelo or busted
7 years ago

Shak… You really need to go outside …Even worse than i do. WTF is a “soft redwood type tree?’ Read my last comment adressing you? Get a tree book and sqirrel in for the winter ? Study? Book? Good chance from the way it was rotted, that it was a Douglas Fir with a broken top, or missing a huge limb, water sets in , dry rot, They rot from the top down. See the big radial pitch seam crack in the first pic? Been a weak tree since it was a pup. CAL TRANS probebly missed it because it had become buried in the new growth since the freeway was put it. …….[And that was only my first CUPPA – KONA!]

ycheryl
Guest
ycheryl
7 years ago

I wonder why there was no mention of the cars going around this tree, into the northbound lanes into oncoming traffic,that caused most of the damage and debris on the road.

G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
7 years ago

Is their any info on how these folks are?