[UPDATE] Large Tree Fell Across Hwy 101 Near Redcrest, Multiple Crashes, One Fatality
About 12:37 a.m., emergency personnel learned that a large tree had fallen across Hwy 101 near mile marker 37 near Redcrest. The highway was closed for several hours. However, according to a spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol speaking a little after 7 a.m., the southbound lanes were eventually opened but the northbound lanes are closed.
He was unable to give details as the scene of the accident is still being investigated but did say that there were multiple vehicles involved.
Northbound traffic is being diverted onto the Avenue of the Giants.
Scanner traffic indicates that one commercial vehicle crashed and an ambulance responded.
We have from a good source that this is a fatality.
Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.
UPDATE 7:34 a.m.: According to scanner traffic from last night, there was one person killed, one person with major injuries, and two with minor injuries from what was found to be a four vehicle crash.
UPDATE: Ferndale Man Dies in Fatal Crash Early This Morning, Redway Man With Major Injuries
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
An unpleasant fatal surprise. RIP. Sympathies to the loved ones.
Every tree that could hit the road should be cut down? Ok, that puts your Covid related comments in a better context.
That would be every redwood within 300 feet or so of the highway. If that is what you want the world to look like from your car, move to LA.
I think they could spend less time tearing up and replacing the surface of the highways and more time inspecting and maintaining the roadside forest.
Unless its rootball is entirely upended that tree had communicated its impending demise. They lean. They start to look stressed. The die off But those things take intuition and effort . Grinding asphalt is easier.
The account of the crash on loco is chilling and triggering. Highway speed, head-on into a tree, in the dark of night . 😭
Exactly!
They left the trees along the road for a view shead. So people couldn’t see all the clear cutting. Cal Trans should remove hazardous trees. This is a tragic example of why. Thoughts and prayers.
How can you take me or this state serious? We had the goverator,we have the gayernor and we’re going to kick him out to bring in the governuter. Come on how can any be serious, this sheet cracks me up. As far as this commercial driver dying because we have such sheety forest management doesn’t surprise me. We just lost a mom and dad in crescent city for the same reasons, it is total bullsh. Pass bills that make sense not ones that make politicians rich. Until then I won’t take this life serious. Sorry for your loss to the wife because her husband won’t come home today, to his kids and grandchildren that won’t see his smile or hear his stories for the hundredth time. Rest in peace ,bud, good man was lost today.
C D F = CUT the DAMN FOREST !!!!
U S A === F V K K – Y E A !!!!!!
“”A tree is a tree. How many more do you have to look at?”
–Ronald Reagan in opposition to creation of Redwood National Park.
DON’T WASTE YOUR FIREWOOD!! It doesn’t grow on trees !!!!
Fake News
Reagans actual quote,
“I think, too, that we’ve got to recognize that where the preservation of a natural resource like the redwoods is concerned, that there is a common sense limit. I mean, if you’ve looked at a hundred thousand acres or so of trees — you know, a tree is a tree, how many more do you need to look at?”
Not the same thing at all
That was an intense scene. Not much to investigate…dark highway, tree falls over every lane, investigation complete. Rip to the semi driver, trying to make a living but the big man had other plans..
The casual callousness with which these comments speak to the death and injury of fellow human beings is disgusting. Why not try for a little respect?
MM 37 on 101 is in Redcrest? 🤷♂️
Yes, it is a little south of the Redcrest exit.
This exact thing just happened few months ago. 2 ppl in a car were crushed by a tree falling onto them on 101 as well. 1 time is too many…2 times “3” ppl now in short time frame same highway.
Just saying….its scary Kim. Thank you for your great reporting. 🙏
My prayers go out to the families of the victims and the ones in the hospital, praying for healing for all involved. I’m so sorry for your losses..😭😢🙏💐💐💐
My condolences to the family and friends of the person who was killed in that accident. May they RIP. Thank you CHP and everyone else that helped at the scene. I pray that the other person with major injures will be ok.
Poorly written as usual. Did the tree fall cause the “accident?” Inquiring Ents want to know.
barum-boom
This was a heads up posted early with limited information. You can click on the updated story at the bottom for more information.
Can’t you read treebeard? “A large tree had fallen across Hwy. 101”… so you’re cruising along at 75mph, 12:30am on a moonless night, come around a curve and there’s a fucking redwood tree across the highway! Tree was big enough to take out a semi, the other three didn’t have a chance! Did the tree cause the accident? What a moron…!
Oh how horribly sad. Blessings to the family and friends of the deceased. Having just traveled through there along with 3 of my beautiful sons and there families hours before this, it is just horrifying! And so close to Mother’s Day. Seems like that is the third tree to block 101 in recent memory. Downright scary and sad.
There are a lot of snags along 101. Why they don’t thin them out is beyond me.
IDK about elsewhere but redwoods frequently don’t give much warning when they topple, tipping over from the rootball a lot or losing a top in the wind I wonder if redwood snags are a serious problem as they don’t have a canopy for the wind to make them come down. I have a few snags at my place but have never seen them do anything but decay and drop limbs. Even the goose pens are not as likely to tip. It’s the live ones that sometimes lose their grip and come down. There is probably someone expert on here who can say.
I’m certainly not an expert, but this reminded me of a redwood fatally coming down on a car on 36 in the mid-70s. Big storm, right on the edge of the grove, no tap root.
I just drove through there a few hours before it happened. I wondered if the Highwinds of the last few days were a factor in this one coming down. I think it’s a very good point that Caltrans or the forest service or the state parks or some entity should go along the highway and identify any that look like they might come down. But that’s a lot of if‘s because they’re very tall redwood could be many many yards Away from the freeway
MAYBE would suggest just staying home… on the couch… and MAYBE not much will happen to you besides obesity and heart attack.. But 3 huge redwoods just crashed through our home two years ago….. my wife had just walked outside from sitting on the couch….. MAYBE she quite possibly would have been killed had she sat there 5 seconds longer. Maybe we all need to drive a little slower… or MAYBE a little bit faster….. sometimes… or MAYBE its just a little bit of both. RIP .
We always loose trees with the wind this time of year and it’s usually unpredictable…We stay Avoid the Avenue when it’s windy…
Are they healthy trees falling over just because of the wind? Anybody know? Terrible accident.
The VMC(visual maintenance corridors) were created for tourism. Unfortunately, for redwoods, the 101 highway and avenue of the giants are too bottle necked in some areas for the health of an old growth forest. Redwood roots are intertwined together in groves and the concrete on 2 sides create instability dryer soil and the roots are shallow and gain their strength and hold from each other. As far as removing snags, many old trees naturally have snags(widowmakers) and are too high to remove. The reason the humboldt 101 VMC exists is because one of the logging companies(i can’t remember which one), broke the gentleman’s agreement of not cutting where tourists travelled. There was an uproar and newspapers mourned the loss of the redwoods back in the 60’s on their front pages. The redwood state park was partly created because of this.
A GoFund Me account has been set up for the man who was critically injured in the accident. Ruben Sepulveda, 52, of Benbow suffered two broken legs, a broken arm, broken ribs, internal bleeding and other complications. He remains in critical care at St. Joseph’s.
https://gofund.me/3fe945ac
Just one question.
Who gave you the green light to start that page….?
Your last name doesn’t say SEPULVEDA.
That’s right! She aint nobody! Definitely not a family member
@Ronda Burke Tell everyone here that your Go fund me is fake. You are keeping the money. Not giving it to his family. They are the ones at the hospital with him not you. Who are you anyway? No relation to Ruben at all. Just some tweeker trying to use people’s kindness to get you some drug money. His mother and daughter do not approve of this at all. You make me sick!