Arcata, Fortuna, Willits and Fort Bragg Residents Were Occupants of Vehicles Involved in Crash in Mendocino This Morning
A Caltrans vehicle and a logging truck are pulled over as a flagperson stops traffic on Hwy 101 at the scene of this morning’s accident. [Photo by Mark Nelson V]
On November 4, 2019, at approximately 0815 hours, Richard Bailey was driving a 2014 Nissan sedan southbound on US-101, in the southbound lane, in the vicinity of mile post marker 50.18 (approximately two and a half miles north Willits). Mr. Bailey stopped the Nissan in the southbound lane due to a traffic hazard ahead.
John Bullwinkel was driving a 2008 Peterbilt truck-tractor combination southbound on US-101, directly behind the Nissan. Mr. Bullwinkel slowed the 2008 Peterbilt, turned to the left, partially entered the northbound lane, and came to a stop.
Robert McAdams Jr. was driving a 1999 Chrysler van, transporting two passengers, northbound on US-101, in the northbound lane, south of the Nissan and 2008 Peterbilt. The Chrysler began driving around the 2008 Peterbilt.
Justin Coggins was driving a 2019 Peterbilt log truck southbound US-101, in the southbound lane, approaching the other parties, while rounding a curve. Due to Mr. Coggins driving the 2019 Peterbilt at an unsafe speed for the traffic conditions, he was unable to stop the Peterbilt and turned to the left, to avoid a collision with the rear of the 2008 Peterbilt’s trailer. Mr. Coggins entered the northbound lane and collided with the left front of the 2008 Peterbilt’s trailer. This collision caused the 2008 Peterbilt to collide with the Nissan.
Mr. McAdam’s observed the 2019 Peterbilt approaching and turned the Chyrsler to the right in an attempt to avoid a collision, but the 2019 Peterbilt’s left side collided with the left side of the Chrysler.
After the collision, the 2019 Peterbilt traversed a steep embankment east of US-101 and came to a rest within the dense overgrowth east of US-101.
A passenger in the Chrysler was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. Caltrans established intermittent traffic closures for both lanes of US-101 while the offloading and recovery is completed. The estimated time for full clean-up is [3 p.m.].
Neither alcohol nor drugs are not suspected as a factor in this collision. This collision is under investigation by the CHP Garberville Area.
Earlier Chapter: Two Semi Crash Blocking Hwy 101 North of Willits
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If the cal trans vehicle didn’t stop in the middle of the road for a deer and blocking traffic this wouldn’t of happened in the first place
No deer in story above.
Justin Coggins was in story above.
Right, couldn’t have anything to do with log truck drivers doing 20 plus over the speed limit loaded down….. Not in the slightest. Guess what Justin, you screwed up! Suffer your consequences for your pour decision.
Justin I feel your pain. Going north after the road closure there was a barbecue in the left lane. I almost witnessed a few accidents there as well. People trying to say 800 ft to stop a loaded logging truck are funny. They’ve clearly never had to jam on the brakes of a loaded vehicle in a panic.
would you want to hit a deed? the accident was not expected!
??Damn.?
Sounds like Coggins could use some truck driving lessons. Can’t stop in the distance you can see is just crazy with a big rig. At 55MPH it takes about 800 feet to stop a truck. Just glad he did not kill someone. John Bullwinkel, on the other hand was paying attention to what he was doing, and even with that he just got stopped missing the car. Great truck driving John.
Really glad to hear there were no serious injuries, this could have ended so differently.
There is one helluva Mercury Retrograde going on right now, have you noticed? Accidents non-stop. So drive with even greater-than-usual caution for the next five or so weeks.
Well, actually, folks, now that I’ve said that…Hmmm.
In fact, you’re better off just doing that all the time, these days. “The fault…is not in our stars, but in ourselves”.
Well, which is it? You’re really sending some mixed messages, here. Can we—or can we not—assuage our guilt by blaming the relative motion of planetary bodies for the consequences of our own choices and actions?
(And if so, can you write me an astrologer’s note for the judge?)
I use cruise control and drive the speed limit which for cars is 65 on most of 101 and I am constantly passed by big rigs for whom the speed limit is 55. I have never seen a semi pulled over by CHP for speeding, have you?
Nope-but they are not the only ones speeding. Pickups pulling boats and trailers also have 55 speed limit, typically go 75. You’re right, commie, if you go the speed limit almost everyone passes you. I’m cool with speeding on i-5, but around here on the windy two-lanes, and with all the deer that are not smart enough to stay out of the road, it ain’t cool.
I saw the aftermath of this accident as one in a long line of cars waiting when they were cleaning it up. When I saw the huge redwood log off the side of the road and the marks where a large vehicle had obviously attempted to avoid hitting something, I thought it must have been real bad. My passenger and I both were amazed to see the logging truck down in the thicket where it was not easily visible from the road. In fact, I might not have seen it at all if it weren’t for the tow truck parked nearby. My first thoughts and continued prayers were for the people involved to be okay, so I was glad to see this article. Based on the curve in the road leading up to the site of the accident, I assumed that someone either suffered a heart attack or was coming around the bend and had to do some quick maneuvering to avoid hitting something in the road. Regardless of the reasons for it – whether it was a split-second decision made by a deer, a CalTrans driver’s reaction, or a trucker going at unsafe speeds – I am just glad nobody was killed. I do not know Mr. Coggins, but I’m glad he’s alive because this accident could have been so much worse if he didn’t do what he did at the last moment. I’m sure he probably does’t feel too happy with what transpired that day, and that all of those involved have gone over those brief seconds in their mind over and over again since then. It is likely that Mr. Coggins and the other drivers all had many thousands of miles of event-free driving under their belt before this, and I am also sure he did not get up that morning and hope to encounter a traffic hazard on a highway turn while fully loaded with redwoods. As a person who drives hundreds of miles every week for my job, I have seen many unsafe drivers on the road, including truckers. I have encountered people riding the tails of other cars, bullying them into going faster than they feel safe driving, and have nearly been run off the road by someone in a much larger vehicle who does not understand that I cannot possibly slow down in enough time to pull off the side of the road and let them pass (which I’d prefer to do) if they are right on my bumper. Because I often drive individuals heading home soon after surgery or who are very elderly or otherwise medically fragile, I try to drive gentle on the turns, bumps, etc. and not brake hard. That means sometimes I have to drive a little slower than you’d like. I’ve had to drive in the smoother fast lane for a little ways to avoid a bumpier slow lane in order to reduce the excruciating pain my passenger felt with every tiny bump and pebble in the road. Driving hard can injure them and I know of individuals who had to immediately go back to the hospital after being driven home by a stranger hired through Uber or another transportation agency to take them home after surgery or hospital discharge because the ride home was so rough it re-injured their broken hand and wrist, ripped internal stitches, etc. I would never want someone to be injured because of my driving. I would not blame the CalTrans guy for stopping for a deer, either. I’ve braked for many animals that have jumped in front of me – including people leaping in front of my car in Eureka. it is instinctual to brake and try to avoid hitting a sudden object in the road. Anyway, this is why they call it an accident. Nobody would have intentionally wanted any of it to happen. I’m just glad everyone got out of it alive. Let’s all try to drive safe out there, guys. Deer, icy roads, landslides, an ill or injured passenger, distracted driver, sudden car problem, or an act of god can happen at any time. Also, if you encounter a car actually going the speed limit on one of our local highways, please consider that the passenger may be in a great deal of discomfort, very sick, coming from surgery in the Bay Area, or taking the last car ride of their life on their way to hospice and the driver is just trying to get them to their destination safely. Please be patient and maybe slow down a little bit out there. You’ll be able to pass eventually and your patience may save someone else from unnecessary pain and suffering. I want my clients to get home relatively unscathed, but even if I think some of you out there might be aggressive drivers, I want all of you to make it home safe, too. After all, if, (heaven forbid), you are hospitalized after an accident, I might end up being the one driving you home when you get discharged, too…
That was a lovely letter full of understanding and kindness for the troubles we all go through. Thank you for taking the time to write it and for being kind to your ill passengers. I’m glad you are out there taking it slow for those who need a little tenderness.