Loleta Man Driving One of Two Semis That Crashed Yesterday Blocking 101 South of Leggett
The semi which was carrying drill equipment ended up on its side. [Photo provided by a reader]
On 7/7/20 at 1750 hours, Michael Cuneo was driving a 2013 Peterbilt tractor trailer combination northbound on US 101 at the Empire Rest Area in Mendocino County. Cuneo was transporting drilling equipment. For reasons still under investigation, Cuneo lost control of his vehicle, which caused the trailer to overturn and the load (drilling equipment) became detached. This caused the Peterbilt to overturn and collide with the roadway. The combination of vehicles and drilling equipment came to rest, blocking all lanes of US-101. A short time later, Jose Avila was driving a 2014 Kenworth tractor trailer combination, northbound on US-101 and collided with the drilling equipment blocking the roadway. US-101 northbound was diverted through the Empire Rest Area. US-101 southbound was closed for approximately 2 hours.
Caltrans, Long Valley Fire Department, AMR and All In One Towing assisted with traffic control and vehicle recovery. This collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol Garberville Area.
Earlier Chapter: Two Big Rigs Crash South of Leggett; 101 Blocked
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Mr. Cuneo is lucky to be alive. With no seatbelt on he could have been thrown completely out or part way out the window. With the cab flat on the drivers side it would probably have been a death sentence. I wish both drivers the best. Be safe guys.
“This caused the Peterbilt to overturn and collide with the roadway. ”
Presumably that is where one should expect an overturn to end up at. I don’t imagine the truck is stuck way up in a tree.
Press releases really need a professional copy writer or at least a PT editor, for clarity if anything.
Well, it could have overturned and collided with the embankment.
Glad everybody is okay! That’s a dangerous stretch of road and that long curve can sneak up on you going northbound especially. It feels like a place to make up time after the curvy one-lane you just travelled…I know it well from way back. I was surprised when they increased the speed limit on this stretch from 55 mph to 65 mph (yes- it’s always been 55 mph for trucks and trailers). They did that speed limit increase all at once years ago and I’ve always thought there are a few sections of 101 in our area where it was not the best thing to do!
Yes, that is a swooping curve that should have had more of a bank built into it. It does sneak up on you if you haven’t traveled it before. Being from Newcastle, I’m guessing Cuneo doesn’t make deliveries up this way often.
The speed limit on 101 North of Willits should be set at 45. Then maybe a few vehicles would run less than 80…
Trucks should not be allowed North of the Covelo turn off. At all.
This curve is extremely dangerous, and I have seen crashes there too many times…
I passed a loaded log truck a couple of days ago on 101 near Sylvandale. The truck speed limit is 55mph, he was going about 60. As I pulled over to pass, his trailing wheels drifted about 3 feet into my lane and he sped up to 70 mph. I just backed off and followed him til I left the highway at Miranda.
Trucks go too fast all the time and I’m sure many of you are aware of this. Of course a lot of passenger cars & trucks speed as well. I am very aware of this because I always set my cruise control at 65 mph.
Don’t blame the “bad corner” that thousands of folks negotiate without crashing all the time. Blame the speeding trucker & the impaired driver.
Drilling equipment would most likely be the pipes. However many pipes were on the flatbed, they HAD to have shifted sideways because of the “speed and angle of the sharp curve” right there next to the rest stop exit. Its a dousy even for a car.
So the load of pipes shifted to the left and over she went. Can we say “GOING TOO -UCKING FAST”?? I think the majority would say-the load hadn’t been checked for tight secure AND going too fast. Otherwise-what a mess, and yes no one got killed.
It was large screw and the drill housing. It definately was unsecured cause both were in the far southbound lane. I was about six vehicles back and was there before chp arrived. Load obviously shifted and dude did well in maintaing and not seriously injuring himself. The other trucker was just bad luck but he also did well in keeping his rig in the northbound lane and properly dove it into the embankment. Kudos to the drivers cause that could of been a lot worse. As far as speeding I doubt it they were heading northbound and that load was massive.
Legal, Thanks for the clarification and good info.
Going too fast is going too fast for road conditions (and vehicle capacity) regardless of what the posted speed limit is. It is a bad curve, but drivers familiar with the road should take that into account, not blame the “bad curve.” But anybody can make a mistake in a moment of impatience or absent-mindedness. I have driven that section many many times, and when going northbound, usually slow down because I want to use the rest stop! But if I don’t intend to stop, it certainly is tempting to speed up coming out of Rattlesnake Canyon to get some momentum going before going up that long grade toward Leggett.