Fatal Accident Closed Hwy 101 Yesterday; Big Rig Driver Dead

This is a press release from the California Highway Patrol. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

CHP TC reportOn 12/21/2017 , at approximately 1:15 P.M., a 2018 Peterbilt logging truck was being driven northbound on US-101, at a speed of at least 40 miles per hour by driver (name withheld pending notification). At the same time a 2014 Ram 2500 was being driven southbound at approximately 50 miles per hour. For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the Peterbilt allowed his vehicle to cross over the solid double yellow lines and the Peterbilt side swiped the Ram pickup. The Ram pickup continued southbound and due to the damage from the first collision spun out of control and collided with a Honda CR-V that was traveling northbound on US-101. The 2018 Peterbilt continued northbound across the southbound lane and off the west shoulder of US-101. The Peterbilt collided with a power pole. After the collision with the pole, the Peterbilt continued in a northwesterly direction off the descending embankment were the front right collided with a large redwood tree. The driver of the Peterbilt became traped within the vehicle. The Peterbilt came to rest on its wheels approximately 15 feet down the embankment against the tree. As a result of the collision the driver of the Peterbilt sustain fatal injuries. Both the driver of the Ram and Honda were uninjured.

Due to the collision with the power pole both the power and phone lines were down across both lanes of traffic. After the scene had came to rest a Winco foods truck had been traveling southbound and collided into the power lines that were in the roadway causing a separate collision.

Both lanes of traffic were blocked for approximately two and a half hours until the power lines could be removed from the roadway. One lane traffic control was established at approximately 4:00 P.M. Due to the fuel spill from the Peterbilt, county health was notified and Hazmat protocol was established with CHP as incident command. PGE took over one way traffic control at approximately 11:00 P.M. after the Peterbilt was recovered. At approximately 7:00 am on 12/22/2017 traffic was restored to normal.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the Garberville CHP, however alcohol impairment is not considered as a factor in the the collision.

Leggett Volunteer Fire, Laytonville Fire, City Ambulance, Veri Health ambulance, Caltrans, PGE, Frontier and CHP all responded to and assisted at the scene along with some of the passing motorist.

Earlier Chapter: 101 Closed North of Leggett

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Quan Yin
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Quan Yin
6 years ago

“After the scene had came to a rest?” I hope that was some faulty auto correct there.

Beverly Hanns
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Beverly Hanns
6 years ago
Reply to  Quan Yin

After the scene came to rest is correct. Meaning: Then after that wreck was done and over with (came to rest) an additional accident happened, separate of the initial accident. Read it again

Gazoo
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Gazoo
6 years ago

Sad for the family, always hard around the holidays when someone passes. Stay safe Humco.

Crime stopper
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Crime stopper
6 years ago

Wow you could make a short movie out of all the things going on. And a 2018 Peterbuilt-oh the bank is going to not like what happened to his truck. Slow down everyone-road conditions always dictate road speed and attention required.

Kimberly Robertson
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Kimberly Robertson
6 years ago
Reply to  Crime stopper

That’s what ins is for. It’s not about my Parents 2018 Peterbuilt. It’s about the lose of a life.

Chris
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Chris
6 years ago
Reply to  Crime stopper

The Log truck was actually going well below the posted speed limit, he was empty ans the roadway was clear and dry. (I witnessed the incident)

Sounds Like
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Sounds Like
6 years ago

With the info in the report … Im going to go out on a limb and guess that the semitruck driver had a medical condition before drifting over the lanes. Im guessing the semi was driving itself before any contact.

Kimberly Robertson
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Kimberly Robertson
6 years ago
Reply to  Sounds Like

Guess again. He served to avoid a collision.

Martinman
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Martinman
6 years ago

What a sad outcome & I’m so sorry for the family’s loss. There are just no words to say to make anything better. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Old soul
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Old soul
6 years ago

A good man was lost. This can be debated every which way, such a tragedy