75-Year-Old Eureka Man and Load of 20 Cattle Dead After Accident on Alderpoint Road Yesterday
Emergency vehicles line Alderpoint Road as the investigation into the tragic accident was underway. [All photos by Candi Green]
Today, Humboldt County Public Works warns, “There will be traffic delays today starting at 10 am on Alderpoint Road at Burr Creek Bridge, crews will be recovering a vehicle. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.”
A closer view of the bridge where the truck went off the road.
Press release from the California Highway Patrol:
On 9/8/2019, at approximately 1100 hours, A 75 year old male from Eureka, was driving his 1990 International truck northbound on Alderpoint Road, just south of Sturm Road. For reasons still under investigation, the man lost control of the truck and it broke through the bridge railing of the bridge over Burr Creek. After colliding with the bridge, the truck left the bridge and came to rest on its side on the river bank below. The driver succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The driver’s identification is being withheld pending notification of his family.
Additionally, the vehicle was carrying 20 head of cattle which all succumbed to their injuries as a result of the collision. Personnel from the California Highway Patrol responded to the scene, assumed and maintained incident command, and are investigating the collision. Personnel from Cal-Fire, Bridgeville Fire, Carlotta Fire, and the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office also responded to the scene.
Alcohol or drug use is not believed to be a factor in the collision.
If anyone has information related to this collision, please call the Garberville Area CHP. (707) 923-2155
Earlier Chapter: Technical Rescue Requested for Vehicle Down Embankment Near Alderpoint Road
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Sad RIP COW COWS
Now maybe they’ll fix the road.
So he had 20 cattle in his truck? Interesting. Must be like the Tardis, bigger on the inside….
Cowdis.
That is a big truck usually carrying a cargo box. So yes, it is possible to have 20 cows being carried in the back. And that might be a cause of the accident as that much live weight could suddenly shift itself and make the truck hard to control.
They were calf’s
No, calves.
With a big trailer would be my guess. Likely the driver had a medical crisis. I don’t think it was some big one unit van. Most ranches I knew of back in the day could not afford just one big cow van. Couple of p-ups and trailers. I Could be wrong. It happens. Sorry for the wrangler and his friends and family. I wonder if all that meat was salvaged at all. That’s potentially a problem for the creek if just left to rot.
The blue pickup isn’t the victim’s truck. He was in an International – i.e. a big truck.
international makes pick up trucks and even medium duty trucks not all are heavy big rigs.
I see you are unfamiliar with a new technology called a “trailer”…
Prayers for the man that lost his life and his family..
I join my prayerful spirit with Loretta and others who are praying to our Heavenly Father for the man who lost his life and for all his loved ones. R.I.P. Mr. Driver.
Thank you! Someone with a understanding of what really happened. It’s not about the road or all the other crap everyone wants to comment about. It’s about the loss of a life. The driver was a kind selfless person. The vehicle experience a mechanical failure. Let us pray for his family and to comfort them though their time of sorrow .
Amen.
❤
This great cattleman’s works will forever live on into the after life R.I.P.
Really? Blaming the road? Heart attack is way more likely the culprit.
RIP
The road is horrible through that part and definitely was the reason the cattle sifted and sent the trailer off.. so sad something like this had to happen because the country has avoided the repairs to the bridge for years
Heartbreaking. Blessings to his family and friends. So sorry for your loss. And the loss of the cattle as well.
The gentleman that lost his life was a
Wonderful person. May he rest in peace..
Tragic, on all fronts.
Lifting prayers and comfort to this man and his loved ones. And to the animal spirits. Much time will help heal.
Most of the older cattle guys I know are salt of the earth type men.
I hate to see them go no matter the cause.
RIP Sir.
what can go wrong,will go wrong.god bless the cowboys.
A very nice man, now with his wife he lost last year. Rest in peace, BN.
Prayers for the family, rest in peace my friend.