Hwy 36 Closed and Man Injured After Traffic Accident

Hwy 36 signA traffic accident closed Hwy 36 at approximately 12:45 p.m. today and a man was injured. The pickup he was driving plowed into a tree at approximately mile marker 12.6 near Swimmer’s Delight.

According to Heidi Dawson-Graham who stopped to help, “The kid was going way too fast.” She said that he “passed a truck with cattle and lost control….”

The Dodge Dakota he was driving struck a redwood tree and “totaled the truck,”  Dawson-Graham believes. She thinks he might also have broken his right leg. 

The road reopened by about 1:36 p.m.
UPDATE:

wreck in the redwoods

[Crop of a photo provided by a commenter]

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37 Comments
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Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago

Another casualty of a combination of things… Driving too fast on Hwy 36, passing when you shouldn’t, driving while stupid, amongst others too numerous to list!!! What is surprising is I have yet to hear or see the “Meat Wagon” go by to haul off the rubbish from the hiway!!!

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  Dan Fuller

Small wonder I didn’t see or hear the Ambulance that’s around 7 miles West of me!!! So of course I wouldn’t see or hear them!!! I’m further up the road from there!!!

Marie
Guest
Marie
6 years ago

Glad he is going to be ok – a broken leg won’t be an easy or fast recovery but I just cannot stand to hear when there are fatalities. Redwood Trees tend to be VERY unforgiving.

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  Marie

Agreed 250% one thing dumb drivers always forget… Redwood Trees DO NOT MOVE, period, end of story!!!

Gus
Guest
Gus
6 years ago
Reply to  Marie

This same idiot has been endangering lives out there. He has passed me on blind corners on 36 a couple of times.

HDD
Guest
HDD
6 years ago

One can only hope that this is a wake up call for this kid. He was a nice guy and got REAL lucky this time. Might not be as lucky next time

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  HDD

Precisely, VERY LUCKY!!!

Deb
Guest
Deb
6 years ago

He wasn’t driving a white ram with duallys was he.

Nicole
Guest
Nicole
6 years ago
Reply to  Deb

No, it was an older red Nissan. I was passing through and saw the clean-up

Nicole
Guest
Nicole
6 years ago

CHP pulling it out of the road

Nicole
Guest
Nicole
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

You’re welcome. I’ve tried sending you the minute long video but nothing wants to upload it; Facebook, gmail, etc. /:

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
6 years ago

Glad the boys ok and hope this is a lesson, we drive this road often we never ever pass anyone and pull over and let anyone behind us pass. It might take us a few minutes longer but luckily we have made each time. Stay safe Humco

Kim
Guest
Kim
6 years ago

Please don’t pass on this road unless there’s a passing lane. Be courteous and use a turn out. We live very close to this spot and have seen so many horrible accidents. Take your time folks.

Livin' Easy
Guest
Livin' Easy
6 years ago

Live near the Carlotta fire hall and walk about 75 yards to the mail box. Every day, people are going 55 or more through the 45 zone. CHP and sheriff could bank tickets if they would take the time; plus do the people living here a huge favor. Always wonder if I will make it home!

Rusty
Guest
Rusty
6 years ago
Reply to  Livin' Easy

You seriously want to be and officer standing anywhere on hwy 36 writing a ticket? They need to set up a speed trap with their lasers and then wave the violators into the Old Mill site to be ticketed. Move the show around weekly. Works great on I-5. One guy stands on the bridge with the laser the other guys and gals tag and bag.

Renaissance1
Guest
Renaissance1
6 years ago
Reply to  Livin' Easy

Sad, you have to wonder if you will make it home, should not have to think about that.

Mogtx
Guest
6 years ago

Very lucky hez not dead.

Cowabunga
Guest
Cowabunga
6 years ago

Fortunately, there wasn’t anyone in the passenger seat.

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago

Ouch!

R-DOG
Guest
R-DOG
6 years ago

If your going to drive like that you need to mount a few chain saws on the front of his truck

Nasty nasty
Guest
Nasty nasty
6 years ago
Reply to  R-DOG

Lmao. Could totally see that on a lifted ram 6.7

Paul C Windham
Guest
Paul C Windham
6 years ago
Reply to  R-DOG

Claymores

Concerned Driver
Guest
Concerned Driver
6 years ago

This pickup was passing a car going east and came within 1 ft of hitting the pickup hauling Cattle head on . The cattle pickup locked up brakes and risked the life of cattle to save this persons life. The cattle pickup also had an infint in it that this person driving like a maniac risked that baby’s life. Unfortunately people pass and drive like this daily on Hwy 36. We used to see officers regularly out here. Now with a new CHP Commander we only see officers when they have accidents they have to attend to. A law enforcement presence is needed in a bad way on Hwy 36.

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago

The seeing officers of the CHP only when there is an accident is sadly very common & has been for quite some time, in my part of Bridgeville on Hwy 36!!! (Swain’s Flat)

G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
6 years ago

Bad spot.maybe they should start posting pictures of the wrecks that have happened on that road,like as road signs or on trees.”THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPEED!or texting,or just not paying attention. I hope he’s ok!!

Jenny
Guest
Jenny
6 years ago

I was the driver of the truck and trailer full of cattle. He was trying to pass a car in front of him both east bound but I was west bound causing him to swerve back into the tree! I have lived out 36 my entire life and I have never seen the traffic so bad. There is no reason to be any where out here fast! I am thankful my new baby my animals and I are all ok.

Bruce Atterbury
Guest
Bruce Atterbury
6 years ago

Derf… Ummm, corners are banked wrong… Really craZy corners! Come on kids, drive slower and safer!!!

Crime stopper
Guest
Crime stopper
6 years ago

gotta say it folks: CAN’T FIX STUPID

onrust8
Guest
onrust8
6 years ago
Reply to  Crime stopper

Yeah, and you can’t fix dead which is what often happens when stupid isn’t fixed. I quit driving 36 over a month ago because it was obvious to me that I wasn’t going to be able to avoid the stupidity. I have driven 36 for over 50 years and give me a loaded truck of logs over an idiot in a grow dozer any day. The road is worn from over use and it has some corners that are potentially dangerous, especially if you are drunk, stoned, impaired in some way and stupid. But generally it is decent road if you obey the rules and the speed limit. I have never driven 36 without seeing at least 2 CHP’s. Maybe they are scared too. So, perhaps they show up just to clean up the mess.

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago

Yeah, but if he could have made it past that car, he would have got to where he was going 20-30 seconds sooner!! Come on people!!! (sarc)

Coletta Hughes
Guest
Coletta Hughes
6 years ago

I hate the jerk drivers up here from the city, who still drive like they’re in LA/SF. I’m more worried about the tree this jerk damaged.

I took the 36 last week and realised a lot of the time the posted 50 mph speed limit is way too fast for the many redwood tree lined hairpin turns that are not forgiving of mistakes. Many of these roads like the 36, Avenue of The Giants, Centerville Road, etc need the speed limits lowered, not just yellow sign suggested speed on curves. I love riding my bicycle in the redwoods, but I would never ride along avenue of the giants unless I wanted to be killed because people drive well over the 50 mph posted speed. They even fly through the towns with 45-35 mph speed limits. High speed is for Interstate 101, not tight two lane state and county highways.

Slow down and enjoy that you don’t live in the rat race of the city anymore, don’t bring your rat race cutthroat driving mentality up here. Because Redwood Trees don’t yield the right-of-way to anyone no matter how badass you think you and your vehicle are… And they shouldn’t have to when you’re in the forest.

Renaissance1
Guest
Renaissance1
6 years ago

Lucky, he didn’t kill anybody else, a broken leg is a small price to pay for his stupidity.

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago

As a 36 resident I see people drive way to fast but I also see people driving way to slow and not doing the curtious thing and pull over for traffic that is more comfortable or able to travel the speed limit. Its very frustrating because there’s plenty of pull outs, and is just as dangerous as going to fast because people will become angry and pass cars in unsafe spots.

Me Myself and I
Guest
Me Myself and I
6 years ago

Too many accidents on 36!

Highway 36 resident
Guest
Highway 36 resident
6 years ago

I live out here and risk my life to go to and from work because of the way people drive out here. The speed limit is not fast enough for them I guess. I also guess we are not important enough to have a police presence out here either :0(