[UPDATE 4:05 p.m.: More Info] One Dead; Two Children Receive Major Injuries in Yesterday’s Crash That Closed 101 South of Laytonville

The vehicles are still smoking as this image was captured. [Photo by a commenter, Justin]

On March 11, 2019, at approximately 1151 hours, [Patrick] Herbstritt, with two juvenile passengers, was driving a 1998 Saturn Sedan southbound on US-101, north of Shimmins Ridge Road. Francisco Rodriguez was driving a 2011 Freightliner towing an unloaded flatbed trailer northbound on US-101, north of Shimmins Ridge Road. For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the Saturn lost control of his vehicle, which traveled across the northbound lanes and collided with the guardrail on the east side of US-101. The Saturn continued into the path of the Freightliner and both vehicles collided within the northbound lanes. The driver of Saturn was pronounced deceased at the scene and both juvenile passengers sustained major injuries. The driver of the Freightliner and his passengers did not sustain any injuries.

The cause of this collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

The California Highway Patrol responded and assumed incident command. Personnel from Cal-Fire, Willits Fire, Brooktrails Volunteer Fire Cal-Trans, and City Ambulance assisted with the scene. Mendocino County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene.

UPDATE 4:05 p.m.: CHP reports that the two injured juveniles are two years old and five years and Patrick Herbstritt is their father.

Earlier Chapter: Fatal Accident Closes Hwy 101 Between Willits and Laytonville