Fatal Collision After Motorcyle and Toyota 4Runner Hit Head-on
[Background image by Oliver Cory]
On September 17, 2019, at approximately 1937 hours, Steven Blake, with a passenger in the front passenger seat, was driving a 1998 Toyota 4Runner westbound on Foothill Boulevard, east of Crawford Road [in Covelo]. Carlos Lopez Cruz was riding a 2000 Harley-Davidson Sportster eastbound on Foothill Boulevard, west of Crawford Road. As Blake was approaching the intersection with Crawford Road, he attempted to pass a stopped vehicle that was preparing to make a right turn. Blake drove the Toyota into the opposing lane directly in front of the Harley-Davidson causing a head-on collision. Cruz was pronounced dead on scene from injuries sustained in the collision. Blake sustained minor injuries and his passenger was uninjured. Foothill Blvd. was closed for several hours for the investigation and vehicle storage.
This collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in this collision.
The California Highway Patrol responded and assumed incident command. Personnel from Cal-Fire, Covelo Fire, and Round Valley Tribal Police assisted with the scene. Mendocino County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene.
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May Mr. Cruz RIP. Condolences to his family and friends. I dearly pray that Mr. Blake will go to prison for his stupid actions. People PLEASE keep looking for motorcycles on the road, their lives depend on it.
if alcohol/drugs aren’t involved, Mr. Blake is looking at a California-style slap on the wrist for this.
Humboldt Frog is unfortunately correct. A handicapped friend in a electric scooter with a 6″ safety flag on it was run over and killed on the sidewalk by Carl’s Jr. in Eureka a few years ago, by an uninsured driver with a revoked license because she was in a hurry to cross in front of south bound 101 traffic. After several missed appearances in court, costing family members a lot of earnings, she received 200 hours of community service. Life is cheap in Humboldt County. Condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Cruz. Sad indeed.
Thanks.
Car was hit from behind by an uninsured driver with a revoked license.
Had me out for a year.
Driver told the cop she hit my car because it wasn’t moving fast enough.
Proof positive that the iq minimum for a license in 70.
Mr. Blake was uninsured when he rear ended a pickup truck several months ago. He injured the driver and he left the scene. Samevroad but up by the elementary school. Speeding in a 25 mph school zone. He was cited.
Life is cheap here in Round Valley, too. The county DA operates a catch and release program. Assaults that kill or maim are no big deal. Just give em a slap on the wrist and return them back onto our community. Almost 30 years I have observed the charade.
It was 2 years 3 months ago. I work right there (not at Carl’s). Watched them struggle to pull his scooter from under the woman’s suv. He was the first of 2 motorcyclists to die that year in Eureka while not on a motorcycle. The second was Dirty Dave while walking in a crosswalk. Both were in broad daylight.
Motorcyclist, we all know the mantra: Keep your head on a swivel. But, eh, like it really F*@king makes a difference. Cagers are gonna be cagers.
R.I.P. y vaya con Dios!!
He may not go to prison but the wrongful death lawsuit he is facing will hobble his ability to EVER have a dime to his name unless he has million dollar insurance. And that may not help if the accident is determined to be his fault…which it sure sounds is the case
That is true of most crimes committed here in the area. The county DA is a joke. It’s a catch and release program. The same bullies, burglars, and troublemakers are returned to the community without serving any time.
It seems prudent to include which town this was in. I have no clue which town this happened in.
Covelo. Just input the intersection names into any map app and it will locate it.
The article mentions Round Valley Tribal Police and Covelo Fire, not that hard to figure it out.
It’s a press release but I’ve added Covelo in brackets in case any one has any concern.
You really are attentive to your readers Kym. It’s much appreciated.
Thank you.
So what is so bad about waiting for a stopped vehicle that was preparing to make a right turn? Will 10 – 15 seconds get you that much farther down the road?
🕯🕯RIP Carlos 🏍🏍🇺🇸🕊🕊
There’s more to the story. And the bloody blanket that was covering his body was left on the walkway from housing to the school in a friend of mines yard. He got the blanket and brought it to the transfer station this morning. Better clean up after evidence and pictures where taken needs to happen how many kids had to see this horrible stuff?
Suzy, please thank your friend for being a decent human being and disposing of that terrible relic from what must have been an evening of sheer horror for all concerned. I am sure it was just tossed aside in the dark and overlooked in the gravity of the moment, but you are correct, there needs to be more mindfulness in the clean up. Perhaps this is connected with some comments I have read concerning the “terrible aftermath” that people viewed. If so, I am hoping and praying that the children who passed that pitiful blanket on their way to school will get some help in processing their trauma. Such an image can remain in the mind’s eye for life. And I wish it had been taken care of at first light – that more people would find the compassion and the courage to do the right thing, “what needs to be done”, as your friend did, and take action to shield innocent eyes from such horrible sights. I have seen, in countries in the developing world, bodies of people killed in accidents lying uncovered in the streets, and although I can understand how such a thing could happen there and not be considered disrespectful, in my heart it felt obscene. I am thankful that things are done differently here.
Yes, probably. The driver of the vehicle turning right was fortunate not to have been rear ended. Mr. Blake was cited several months ago for a rear ender that caused injuries to the driver. Blake was speeding, and left the scene. The same road but closer to the elementary school. In looking at the landscape photo of the area of the fatality, it’s an open straight stretch known for late night crazy speeding. Also note the view is clear with NO obstacles. Approaching traffic is easily seen if one is paying attention.
An impatient 20 year old kid, this mentality unfortunately covers 95% of all drivers in Northern California. As people become more and more “distracted” these things will become more frequent.
No one has mentioned the fact that the vehicle that the Toyota was trying to pass was stopped making a right hand turn, for no reason I can think of. Yes, it is possible that there was someone or something in the street preventing them from turning, but I’m betting not. Impaired? Apparently not. Poor driving? I see it daily; people just don’t know how to drive, and they will stop at corners and intersections when they have the right of way and need to keep driving. Oh hey, gotta check that phone! Now this very minute! So dangerous. That said, yes of course the driver of the Toyota was utterly at fault for their impatience, they were going to gain – what? Five seconds? And show what a big badass they were? And instead they took a life. Impatience and stupidity, ay ay ay. Straightaway warriors – that corner has seen so many bad accidents. And Suzy that’s just fucked up about the blanket. Sheesh.
And it’s ironic, Carlos was purportedly a decent biker, one of the more sane and prudent young riders in a town suffering from idiots who take to the streets, riding suicidally every evening. Perhaps his terrible passing will prompt others to mend their ways. But I doubt it.
Ah well. R.I.P.
I don’t care if the car was stopped in the middle of the lane for a mouse. You don’t blow around a car by going into oncoming traffic
That turn is at 90 degree. One almost has to stop to turn without going into the other outcoming lane.
Why so many crashes lately?
Are more patrols needed?
In general, (not commenting on this particular accident).
Are the drivers not used to inclement weather (rain, cold)
which means caution and slowing down is necessary because the weather
will not allow L.A. or Bay Area driving
no matter what kind of car you have or
what kind of driver you think you are
BECAUSE Mother Nature dictates
using caution in inclement weather?
Just a general comment regarding how generally people drive too fast in inclement weather,
was not there ❤️️ to all
rip,
peace to all involved,
peace to all the drivers.
Patrols, perfect weather, local driving skills, or anything else you wish for has nothing to do with pulling into the oncoming traffic lane without first making sure it is safe to do so. Just like cutting corners on twisty roads – unless you can clearly and absolutely see that the other lane is clear, stay entirely within your own lane.
Maybe because half the valley is on some form of drug? Would that not be a reasonable thought about why so many social problems?
Just a general comment on the local driving, not reflective of this accident.
1
People drive too fast for their abilities regardless of the weather.
2
People from out of the area drive too fast even when it is not rainy or cold
because they don’t get that the road is slick after rain even if it’s now sunny.
3
Maybe a grant could be obtained for more highway patrol for the more accident prone areas.
4
Radar monitored areas should enforce some kind of ticket for speeders.
3 speeding tickets in 1 year and the license gets pulled.
Radar? Speeding tickets? Are you fucking kidding?!? Hell maybe once in a blue moon. This is Round Valley we’re talking about. The moment a CHP turns onto 162, Valley-bound, the phones light up and the word goes out. It’s disgusting. And nobody gets ticketed or fined for nuthin’. No accountability. Damn shame, it would change things for the better.
This comment has no connection to this accident, condolences to all.
In general, the solution is to raise the iq to at least 90 to obtain a license.
The minimum 70 iq is too low.
I wonder how fast Mr. Cruz was going?
He was cited for speeding a few months ago. Slammed into the rear of a pickup that was doing the legal 25 mph. A school zone no less. Driver of the pickup was injured and suffered back and neck injuries. Blake also left the scene of that accident. CHP and Tribal Police located him. He was cited.
Bane, uh, are you referring to Blake or Cruz? First you say “he”, then say “Blake”. anniefanny wondered about Cruz.
Sorry Bug on a Windshield. Yeah, I realized that error after posting. Poorly worded. I am referring to Mr. Blake, and not the deceased. Mr. Cruz has died a horrible death. May he Rest In Peace. And that his family finds some solace somehow.
Its Sad that Steven Blake could not wait till the car turned, but try to be a Big Ass and show off, and took an innocent Life, Carlos had two babies he left behind, now those babies have to live without there Daddy, he was such a good Man, loved his babies always smiling and always quiet and was well known to our public, So Sad!!😭 R.I.P. Carlos Cruz Lopez😭😭
This guy should not be on the road driving. This is his second accident in six months. He rear ended a pickup causing injuries to the driver. Same road only closer to the elementary school. He was speeding in a 25 mph school zone.
Make no sense if the car was stoped waiting obvious thar was a nother car comeing seems like the driver would know that befor passing otherwise the car would of allready turned
I suspect they had seen the motorcycle and were waiting to see if it would turn on to Crawford. Lots of folks don’t signal, maybe the driver in the first car was just being cautious, even though they had the right of way they know how the bikers are in Covelo, they are hella crazy sometimes. But Steven Blake – why the hell people have to pass like that is beyond me. Sad waste of a human life. I wonder if anybody will learn from this. Mr. Blake needs to go to the schools and talk to classes about what happens when you’re a dick behind the wheel. That should be part of his punishment. When I was in high school in my senior year we were made to watch “hamburger movies” – docs with scenes of actual godawful accidents. Sounds harsh? Tell you what, they put the fear of God in us kids, and we grew up to be sane drivers because we had seen the carnage that a vehicle could produce.
Mr. Blake was filmed on the surveillance camera at the elementary school. He did not know this because he left the scene after being rude to the person he rear ended. He was downright nasty after rear ending a pickup truck. I know because I witnessed the accident and watched and listened. He was speeding. He could use that surveillance video as his teaching tool. Oh yeah, it turns out he was not insured. The person painfully injured lost time and money in medical costs, and damage to his truck. Did Mr. Blake care?
Covelo resident: This is not Mr. Blake’s only accident of late. He was speeding in a school zone and rear ended a pickup. The driver was injured and had to go to the hospital for back and neck injuries. Someone ( his parents?) should yank his license. He is a deadly menace to life and limb.
Covelo resident: Same driver, same street, almost the same locale, only closer to elementary school. Mr. Blake rear ended a pickup truck causing injuries to the driver. He was speeding in a 25 mph school zone. Cited.