[UPDATE Thursday] Fiery Fatal Accident Has Closed Hwy 299 Just West of Redding
A fiery fatal crash closed Hwy 299 approximately 2.5 miles west of Shasta, according to a report on the CHP Traffic Incident Information Page and a tweet by Caltrans District 2.
A two vehicle collision occurred a little after 8 p.m. One vehicle was fully engulfed in flames as a result and another crashed over the side of the road.
By 9 p.m., the California Highway Patrol page reported that a Coroner had been requested.
The triangle indicates the scene of the crash. [Screengrab of Caltrans QuickMap]
Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.
UPDATE 10:40 p.m.: KRCRTV is reporting,
[A] deputy with the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) swerved to avoid striking a deer with his vehicle and hit another car, causing that vehicle to catch fire.
For more information, go to KRCRTV’s story by clicking here.
UPDATE Thursday: Caltrans District 2 tweeted at 6:45 a.m., “Road opened approximately 2.5 miles east of Shasta at 3 a.m. following two vehicle collision.”
Caltrans QuickMap still shows snarled traffic in the area.
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Wrong info. The accident was east of Old Shasta and West of Redding. I was just a few vehicles behind and headed West toward Weaverville. Actually had to wait to turn around as the Emergency Vehicles just kept coming. Not sure if the Hwy is still closed or not. When it was safe to turn around, used Buena Ventura to Swasey to cut back to Hwy 299 W on the other side of the accident. Hope this is helpful.
Do you happen to know what kind of vehicle was hit and on fire?
Sad for all, Did the deer make it at least?
Really?
Diane’s blood lust cannot be sustained with the loss of human life. She desires the animals involved to die as well.
This is an article about my good friend dying. If you’re so concerned about the deer, tell the police not to break the law and speed to a non-emergency call. On rural roads, where deer run out even if they see headlights, this happens constantly but rarely does it happen like this. Deer are hit all the time, and I seriously doubt you have a genuine care about it or else you’d be informing the police how to drive in rural areas. This officer endangered the lives of a mother/infant and TOOK the life of my blessed friend. He also hit the deer, and wrecked thousands of dollars of tax-funded equipment. This should anger every American, and I would love a word with the officer.
Seriously??? If this was your loved one who was killed, would you still be concerned about whether or not the deer made it? Unbelievable.
Yes, it crosses my mind about the deer’s life.
High school drivers education class is the third place I learned to never swerve to miss an animal. Dam cop out for the cop
Insurance statistics show that with accidents involving animals 50% are caused by trying to avoid the animal while the other 50% are caused by hitting the animal.
Damn* not dam
Damn, not dam
This is why it’s illegal to swerve to miss an animal. So sad. Prayers for the deceased and family.
It is not illegal to swerve to miss an animal
Where is it ‘illegal’? Source? If you get off killing things just admit it.
It’s disheartening how few people know that legally you are supposed to remain in your lane regardless of surprise obstacles. Call your Insurance companies and ask who would be at fault in different scenarios if you don’t understand the basics of driving. Shocker, you’re not so important that you get to endanger innocent bistanders to protect yourself or your vehicle.
//”Call your Insurance companies and ask who would be at fault “//
~i’ll make a note of that. Oh wait. I don’t have insurance. Damn, i may have to figure this out for myself.
Rest in Peace, Harrison. You departed too soon.
Second accident in a week on 299 caused by careless cops.
And how many accidents have been caused by careless people in general? What percentage of those were caused by deer running around in the road, and the first reaction of the driver is to avoid making the deer a good ornament?
If you lived in a rural area where deer run constantly across the roads, you’d already know not to drive fast at night where the deer WILL jump into the headlights. My grandma has wrecked 5 cars from deer over the mountain pass to her ranch. Another time a bear ran across the road and broadsided her SUV, left a huge dent. Then it got up and ran back off.
Every accident is usually avoidable. And they’re all caused by people, since people tend to drive.
This is about the cop that killed my friend though, and put his friend and her daughter in the hospital. Did 110 on a rural road to a non-emergency and caused thousands in damage that will come back out of our taxes. Oh, did I mention he took my friends life? I thought that was against the law.
I live near there and I’ve never seen a deer anywhere near there
Go outside or look up from your phone now and then. There are deer there. ( maybe one less today)
Most deer accidents happen Oct., Nov., and Dec.
Neither have I.
Maybe it’s just us folks on the coast that have all the deer observation opportunities. Yesterday, at 11:15 am I drove from Fortuna to Scotia and saw 8 deer very close to the roadway. I only saw six in the return trip at 1 pm.
Go out of the city sometime maybe you’ll see something
There are deer there. I once lived in the Mary Lake subdivision shown on the map and had deer in my yard on occasion. Prior to that there was a period where I lived in Weaverville but worked in Redding. I was driving back to Weaverville just past dusk on 299 along Whiskeytown Lake in the through cut just east of the CHP weigh station, driving a Miata. There was a deer in the middle of the highway apparently indecisive on which way to go so I slowed down considerably. I was followed by a large Ford sedan and behind the Ford was a small Corolla-type Toyota. Both cars decided to pass me when I slowed for the deer. The Ford was just starting to lap me in passing when the deer glanced off the Miata left fender into the radiator of the Ford and then bounced into the radiator of the Toyota. Both cars were disabled but my vehicle had a minor fender dent. I took the woman driving the Ford to the telephone (prior to cells) at the Whiskeytown visitor center and I called CHP and she called AAA road service. CHP was there post haste and I drove the driver of the Toyota to the same phone and she called her boy friend.
Several years later in my PU I was pulled over and cited for reckless driving by a NPS Whiskeytown ranger in the same stretch. Highway 299 was a construction zone as it had new chip seal and the lines were in the process o being painted. The NPS cop was busy rubber necking at teens along the lake and not paying attention and did a U-turn directly in front of me almost causing a collision. He wrote me a ticket for reckless driving in a construction zone but I fought it before the federal magistrate and won, rather NPS dropped the charges, after an initial hearing and before the trial. I was going to call the other NPS cop in the cop car as my witness.
~thanks, OrleansNative. I like your ‘hearing’ story and your reaction in your first paragraph. No insurance troll had to interpret for you in that moment.
🕯🌳Prayers and condolences to all families involved.
Amen.
Thank you. His name was Harrison Breedlove. He was a good kid
Hi… Harrison is my nephew… we are all devastated
Sending you all my condolences; and extra love to Trish. Reach out through Adrianne if we can help in any way.
this is a good example of the education / level of intellect of the law enforcement, this plus the guy last week who flipped a u turn in front of a log truck driver. these people can clearly barley drive and they are the ones allowed to carry guns and enforce laws. i think we can do better
Not many people want to take a police job in Humboldt. Up until recently they weren’t even welcome in the hills. They have limited resources and Humboldt can be expensive to live in or move to. So Humboldt ends up with any cop they can get.
“Limited Resources.”
Yeah, sure.
Then go through the Law Enforcement Academy and do it yourself! Stop complaining. They are human…
they are barely human… also they are paid to act as authority not yokal cowboys
Maybe it’s time these officer start getting proper training and are not hired till they’re older when they have experienced not right out of the academy out of high school. Even the sheriff that hits the bear out there past Hoopa had a horrible driving record totaling multiple cars before totaling that one. Maybe they should raise the age limit to be a cop. Problem is we can’t even hire cops here in Humboldt County. Sheriff’s office has over 20 open spots they can’t feel cuz this place sucks so bad.
Thank you, people rarely talk about the biggest issue with police Nationwide. They’re only trained for 6 months. You have to go to school for two to four years just to become a paralegal, but people with one of the most important and powerful jobs on the planet are given a meer 6 months of training. That is not a job you can learn in 6 months.
Like many other specialized jobs, there’s classroom training then there’s on the job training. Per HCSO manual, a new hire has a period of on the job training following their formal classroom work.
“Entry level deputies shall be required to successfully complete a 720 hour field training program
as stated in the HCSO FTO program administrative manual.
The training period for a lateral deputy may be modified depending on the trainee’s demonstrated
performance and level of experience, but shall consist of a minimum of 280 hours as stated in the
FTO program administrative manual.
To the extent practicable, entry level and lateral deputies should be assigned to a variety of Field
Training Officers, shifts and geographical areas during their Field Training Program.”
Then there is ongoing training for all.
I don’t know this but I suspect there is a probationary period too.
20 more – just what we need. Not.
Piss poor trade off. Cops are just as bad drivers as everyone. Have seen many instances.
I bet the cop was on his cell phone, deer….yeah right….
I suggest to all you police officer haters, go to school and become a cop and show us how it is done correctly. Bet not one of you would pass! I feel very sorry for the Sheriff officer. Something he will have to live with forever. Condolences to the deceased persons family and friends. May that person RIP. God Bless.
I clearly learned more than this officer did in driver’s ed so if he could get a driver’s license without knowing how to drive what does that say about how well he did during his training and how easy it is to pass s*** that you’re not good at and haven’t learned enough about. I love cops, but you don’t get a hall pass for reckless driving that kills someone just because you pass a 6-month training and became a cop.
Thinking that does not mean that is true. While swerving to avoid a problem thus causing an injury to another person might make for at fault liability in civil court, it depends on the situation. For example, no one who is rational would ever say that hitting a child who suddenly appears in front of a car is the only option because they “know that legally you are supposed to remain in your lane regardless of surprise obstacles. “
It was a critter.
I worry now, because they are changing the story. Our family was told the officer swerved to miss a deer. Now they say he hit the deer and lost control. With 3 officer crashes in one week, it smells like protection for the sheriff’s department.
J, it is human instinct to avoid hitting an animal on the highway. Reaction takes over before the mind can grasp the situation and make a safer call, like hitting the deer.
it takes a certian type of mental disorder to want to be a cop. Martin if you feel sorry for the cop, you probably also feel sorry for trump and dont think the presidents calls should be recorded. go merica
Once again humboldt/ trinity get law enforcement’s best. Three fiery and/or fatal crashes in short order prove a cocky attitude overruling common sense while wielding multiple weapons ( vehicle, gun , taser).Let’s all consider the type of personality that would accept a paycheck to bully and/ or kill one’s community members. If you’re not concerned, you must not drive or live in this community 🤔
Most people who take a paycheck to be in law-enforcement do it to serve and protect.
maybe in the 50’s
I’ve heard of so many people who get in trouble because they either stopped or tried to go around an animal… never do that… and yes I agree the policeman are too young and I come from a very big law-enforcement family.I’m sorry this happened and I feel for the families who were affected.
Then go through the Law Enforcement Academy and do it yourself! Stop complaining. They are human…
Yes they are Human but they are Law Enforcement… We hold them to a much higher standard because of their training.
We’re not complaining were stating a fact the policeman are too young and don’t have enough training.
The Freeman’s Charter for the City of Eureka is where look for a guideline.
Article VIII Police Department Section 108 There shall be a Chief of Police, who shall be a qualified elector of the city, not less than twenty-five years of age, and who shall be appointed by the Mayor, by and with the consent of Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of the appointing power.
Hiring officers younger than 25 y.o., is a Breach of Fiduciary duties.
My Goodness, my my how all the haters come out to complain!!!! I have seen second hand more than a handful of ” people hiding behind Fake names ” do nothing but B*tch about Law Enforcement!!! Apparently you dont know the training, the mental testing and etc ! Yet I dont see Any of You trying to go to the academy, None !!! Instead cry about this and that , call them names Everything 🖕
So what if they are Younger, they have completed All the requirements to be a officer of the law . You must be 21 years of age to be on the force !!! Young or old they still do a job to protect and serve . Jesus christ just STFU
uh, i dont think you are understanding the point. there is not enough training required. most people finish college at 22, and that you only need to be 21 to be a cop is half of the point. these children have no life experience. the other part of the problem is that no sane, competent person from a decent up bringing with loving parents and a good head on their shoulders would ever want to become a cop.
this guys inabilty to listen, or in this case read, makes me think he is a cop… they are to young
RIP Harrison; I’m so sorry this happened; to the entire family. Harrison was my sisters younger brother (same dad), her phone call to me yesterday morning was horrific, I could barely understand her. Life is so precious, my heart hurts so badly for everyone, as someone whose son died, I encourage you all to be respectful and kind; his mom is going to need so much support and love, reading nasty comments; even about the officer aren’t helpful to a grieving family.
Harrison has a big family and will be missed. Just getting started in life and now it’s over. I pray for the young lady and infant that was with him. I can only pray it was fast and cant believe some of the cold comments I have been reading. His family is reaching to understand at this time and reading these posts.
Harrison you are loved and will be missed.
Anybody get some back strap? It’s legal now ya know. To process roadkill. Talking about the deer
Has the county made any updates?
It was reported in the Trinity Journal last Wed. that the other occupant of the victims car succumbed to their injuries, putting this at a double fatality.
The occupants and driver of the truck that caused the accident are ok.
No charges have been filed.
I think you’re referring to the crash by Douglas City. This one was by Old Shasta.
Darlene,
Ullr is correct. My mistake . I was referencing the wrong accident.
Ullr thank you very much.
That was a terrible mistake on my behalf.
https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2019/11/07/chp-one-dead-after-head-crash-shasta-county-sheriffs-deputy-highway-299/2519148001/
Update, Friday, Nov. 8:
The California Highway Patrol has released the names of a woman and a child who were injured in a fiery crash on Highway 299. Their sedan was struck by a sheriff’s deputy who had lost control of his vehicle after colliding with a deer.
A third passenger in the sedan died at the scene. That man has yet to be identified by the Shasta County Coroner’s Office.
The tragic crash happened Wednesday night, when Shasta County sheriff’s deputy Henry Taylor, 30, was driving west on Highway 299 near Lower Springs Road, according to CHP officer Jason Morton.
Morton said Taylor hit a deer in the roadway, causing him to lose control and hit a Toyota sedan with three passengers who were traveling east. The sedan caught fire with the passengers inside, and Taylor’s vehicle ended up upside down in a ravine, Morton said.
NOT TAKING SIDES! But when I was a young Mom and my husband attacked me in front of my kids my NEICE was there and called THE POLICE and thank goodness she did because I will never know how much worse it could have been! They STOPPED him and put him in jail. By the time he was released we had moved 🙏 and he didn’t know where! THANK YOU TO ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EVERYWHERE AND THEIR FAMILIES! YOU ARE ALL MY HEROES 👌👍🥰👵🏻