Four Minors Injured in 299 Accident, Two Dead in 101 Incident

Information provided by the Arcata Fire District:

At approximately 6:00 PM Arcata Fire District was dispatched to a vehicle rollover on Highway 299 near Glendale with a possible entrapment. Minutes later they were dispatched to a second vehicle accident on south bound highway 101 near Highway 299 in Arcata.

Upon arrival of the Highway 299/Glendale incident, Battalion Chief (BC) Sean Campbell reported a single passenger vehicle that had rolled over the embankment approximately 20 feet from the roadway. The vehicle was found on its wheels, but the roof was caved in.

There were four patients in the vehicle at the time of the incident. The two patients in the back seat were able to self-extricate. The other two patients in the front seat suffered head injuries and had to be extricated by Arcata Fire District and Blue Lake Fire personnel. “We were able to use a hydraulic tool or the Jaws of Life to extricate the patients in the front seat” stated BC Sean Campbell. Three of the four patients were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. The fourth patient refused care. All four patients were minors and suffered a range of injuries from minor to moderate.

Arcata Fire District responded with one chief officer, one engine and our heavy rescue truck. Blue Lake Fire responded with one chief officer, one engine and one rescue. CHP also responded to conduct the investigation and traffic control.

Units from Arcata Fire District and Humboldt Bay Fire responded to the second incident at Highway 101 and Highway 299. Upon arrival at the accident, crews reported a single vehicle into a tree down an embankment with three people trapped, two of them in critical condition. Within minutes Arcata Fire personnel were able to extricate the first patient from the vehicle who was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. Five minutes later, personnel were able to extricate the second patient from the vehicle. This patient suffered minor injuries. The third patient was pronounced deceased at the scene. CHP is currently on scene conducting the investigation.

Arcata Fire District responded with one chief officer, two engines and one rescue. Humboldt Bay Fire responded with one chief officer and one engine, Blue Lake Fire responded with once chief officer and a rescue. University Police responded with one unit for logistics and Cal Fire responded to provide coverage in our fire district.