CHP Releases Information on Yesterday’s Multi-Vehicle Accident

This is a press release from the California Highway Patrol. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

chpstarOn Saturday, November 7th, at approximately 9:20 in the morning, a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Latonya King, was traveling south on US-101 near milepost marker 76.00 in Mendocino County.  A 2008 Kenworth tractor pulling a loaded tank trailer, driven by Kevin James, was traveling north on US-101 near the same milepost marker.  Approximately two weeks prior to the date of the collision, the roadway in this area had been repaved, however, the lane markings had yet to be painted on the asphalt surface.  The section of US-101 where the collision occurred has two lanes of travel (one for northbound traffic and one for southbound traffic) that are divided by a 12 foot wide gore section. These lanes were marked temporarily with adhesive reflector tabs to denote the lanes and gore section.  For reasons still under investigation, both King, driving the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu and Hanson, driving the 2008 Kenworth, were traveling within the gore section section of the highway.  Both parties were unable to avoid a collision and subsequently, the 2004 Chevrolet collided with the 2008 Kenworth, within the gore section.  Both vehicles came to rest within the southbound lane of US-101.

A third driver, Phillip Floyd, was driving a 1995 Toyota Pickup in the southbound traffic lane, behind King on US-101 at the time of the collision.  After the Kenworth collided with the Chevrolet, it also collided with the Toyota Pickup, causing minor damage.

As a result of the collision, King was trapped within the driver seat of the Chevrolet Malibu. Members of Cal Fire and of the Laytonville Fire Department succeeded in extricating her from the vehicle.  King was then airlifted by CalStar helicopter to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, CA.  All other involved drivers and passengers were uninjured.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this collision.  For your safety and the safety of others, always be vigilant of roadway markings, and when in doubt, err on the side of caution.

Earlier Chapter: Crash Near Spyrock and 101 Injures Woman

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For Real
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For Real
8 years ago

Thanks for info,Kym! But can somebody please explain what a “gore zone” is? That stretch on 101 from Spy Rock Rd to Bell Springs Rd has claimed many lives over the years. Sometimes black ice in there, many drivers speeding and positioning for the passing lanes to open up again, and there are some slow roads joining 101 in there. Be safe everybody please!

Richard A Pico
Guest
Richard A Pico
8 years ago
Reply to  For Real

Gore zone or area is similar to a cross hatched area. CHP uses gore point & reverse gore point, which are triangular and are usually found at the beginning of on-off ramps. in this event gore zone was probably rectangular with no point involved. gore could mean “no man’s land” on a state route or freeway. gore area, by the way, will not be marked with cross-hatch paint.

pami
Guest
pami
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I believe that section “gore” is normally the passing lane for southbound traffic when going up Rattlesnake summit, but it just isn’t marked as that yet.

Phil at Caltrans
Guest
8 years ago
Reply to  pami

This occurred just before the passing lane starts, in the curves where there is almost a full lane width gore between the northbound and southbound lanes.

I drove through there Thursday night and the temporary reflectors seems to be clearly in place.

Dumboldt
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Dumboldt
8 years ago

About a month ago I was driving south down 101 and there was a section of the 4 lane highway that had recently been paved. The only lane markers were those small reflectors separating the two southbound lanes, no painted lines at all. I didn’t watch my odometer but it seemed like it was like this for at least a couple of miles. It was dark and slightly foggy and it was very difficult to distinguish the lanes from the shoulders. I understand that the highway must remain open but I couldn’t understand how there could safely be such a long stretch open with unmarked lanes. I would think that in an area with such a foggy reputation Caltrans would have a safer method for keeping the highways open.

gunther
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gunther
8 years ago

Named after Al Gore who was trying to count votes that didn’t belong to him?

Lost Croat Outburst
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Lost Croat Outburst
8 years ago
Reply to  gunther

Nice try. Trying to get votes counted that would have belonged to him but were not counted thanks to 5 to 4 Supreme Court vote. Oh well, there went the thread. How lucky that we got Bush, 9-11, trillion dollar failed wars, piss-poor Katrina-response, and the biggest economic collapse in 75 years. Thank you Republican Supreme Court. Thank you, Gunther, for reminding us this election season.

Milt
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Milt
8 years ago

Section of highway near point identified by CHP (Mile Marker 76.0) with conditions as described (one lane each direction with center gore area).

For Real
Guest
For Real
8 years ago
Reply to  Milt

Thanks, Milt! I totally get the picture now. There’s one of these farther south below Rattlesnake Summit almost to The Hog Farm. It used to be 2 lanes going down years ago but Cal Trans crossed off one of those. Good thing because it comes up on a tricky curve and even I ( a very much local) took it too fast a couple times and ended using the oncoming lane (thankfully empty)! Of course if it’s left unmarked then that’s a very dangerous thing for CalTrans to do!

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
8 years ago
Reply to  For Real

That curve to the right at the bottom of the hill is very sharp. I have had trouble rounding it even coming up the hill.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
8 years ago
Reply to  Milt

That photo is just south of Brush Mountain Summit going down the hill. The newcomers renamed it “Brushy Mountain Summit”, then the next newcomers renamed it “Rattle Snake Summit” because it is just south of Rattle Snake Creek”.

Wouldn’t it be nice to just stick with the names given to them. The Brush family must be flippy-flopping in their graves…

This comes from the guy who’s family renamed Jackson Valley “Branscomb”.