[UPDATE – Road Reopened] Occupant Trapped After Rollover Accident Near Alderpoint, Ambulance Requested
Sirens can be heard throughout Garberville as emergency personnel respond to the report of a single-vehicle accident near the Alderpoint Bridge, thirty minutes east of Garberville.
The CHP Incident Page reported at 10:52 a.m. on August 2nd that a grey SUV is overturned just east of Alderpoint. The occupant is reported to be trapped inside the vehicle.
An ambulance has been dispatched.
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 11:02 a.m.: Scanner traffic indicates that a Subaru is 100 feet off the embankment near the Alderpoint Bridge. The Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue team has been requested to assist with the extrication.
People look over the bank where a single vehicle accident occurred with an occupant trapped. [Photo by Rosealee Crenshaw]
The grey SUV is barely noticeable down a steep embankment. The trapped occupant awaits extrication. [Photo by Rosealee Crenshaw]
Update 12:38 p.m.: The CHP log reports that the Alderpoint Road will be closed at the bridge for a medical helicopter to land.
Emergency personnel on scene [Photo by Ed Denson]
First responders assessing the accident scene from above [Photo by Ed Denson]
People look on as air ambulance prepares to land on Alderpoint Bridge [Photo by Ed Denson]
The previously trapped occupant has been transported to a hospital in Humboldt County. Additionally, the accident is now being listed as a ‘minor injury’ accident.
Update 3:05 p.m.: Photos of the air ambulance at the scene of the traffic accident were sent in by Ed Denson and Danette Gardner.
Air ambulance landed on Alderpoint bridge [Photo by Danette Gardner]
Medical personnel load the patient into the awaiting air ambulance [Photo by Danette Gardner]
Departing the Alderpoint Bridge [Photo by Ed Denson]
Transporting the patient to a local hospital [Photo by Danette Gardner]
View from above of the helicopter leaving the Alderpoint Bridge [Photo by Ed Denson]
[Photo by Ed Denson]
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We saw the police vehicles arrive about 11:25. The accident seems to be at a sharp curve about 200′ north of the bridge. May have pix soon.
Hi Ed, Kym is out of the office. Will you send those photos to me at [email protected]? My mom is there but she’s having a hard time getting good photos. Thanks.
Kym, and Ed and Lisa, if this is the spot that drops into Carter Creek that the westbound lane just disappears into the abyss, on a blind turn, with no warning device, just before the bridge, this story needs to be covered.
The county is well aware of this roadway hazard, and there have been many accidents there before.
It’s complete, blatant , intentional disregard, and total negligence, on the part of Humboldt County Roads,
If this accident victim dies, it would be negligent homicide.
If injured, a lawsuit is in order.
The county should have repaired this long ago, and it is unspeakably irresponsible that they have not already done so…
There is no warning, the lane just ends, on a blind turn, over a cliff. It has been that way for decades…
It was only a matter of time…
That time appears to be now.
Do a story on it, and maybe it will get fixed, and another tragedy, like this one, may be prevented.
It’s to late for this one.
I have personally demanded that this death trap be addressed in the past.
It has almost gotten me as well, vs a school bus… I was eastbound. The school bus was westbound, on the over the bank side.
The locals are well aware of the hazard, anyone from out of the area, that is unfamiliar with this unacceptable hazard, is at risk…
The blood from this accident, if this is the location, sits squarely, and solely, on the shoulders of the County of Humboldt, Public Works, Department of Roads.
There can be no question about that.
Will they fix this now, or will someone else have to pay a heavy price, in life and limb, again, for their negligence?
The last people that I remember went off there, were uninjured, but only because of a totally miraculous set of circumstances.
And I do mean totally miraculous.
Concrete K rails were installed as a result, and some reflectors…
All have been since removed, but the missing
westbound lane hasn’t ever been repaired or replaced, in any way… It’s a set up.
Its been decades. At least.
Enough is enough.
We must demand that this is repaired properly.
It’s matter of life and death.
While they are at it, there are three similar extremely hazardous blind narrow spots between Garberville and milepost 8 on Alderpoint Road.
With a major injury accident recently on the blind narrows closest to town…
They need to be addressed as well…
Before someone else is hurt or killed from the negligence.
I hope you can document your complaint to the county. That would be vital information if a lawsuit is filed for the victim(s) of thi accident
You people need a real life. The county isn’t responsible for people wrecking their vehicles when they are either too I’ll to be behind the wheel or driving wrecklessly. They just aren’t, no level of incompetence or enabling is going to change that. Be responsible for yourself.
You should visit that spot, and then say that…
It actually appears that this accident happened very near to the missing lane on a blind turn, but might not have been due to it.
If you really think that the county isn’t responsible for people wrecking their vehicles, you clearly do not know of what you speak.
I am well aware of numerous incidents, involving accidents that the county was directly at fault for. Some fatal.
They may not have been held responsible, but they were definitely responsible.
No doubt about it.
Here’s a link to the blind curve the vehicle failed to negotiate (the map provided in the article has the accident located on the wrong side of the bridge). The missing road appears to have red cones glued to the road in place of the barriers just beyond this curve. That should stop people from driving off the road. 🙄
https://goo.gl/maps/3nneu13KcDFeDtJi6
Thanks, cool link.
I don’t think that those reflector cones Sr still there, but I’m not sure…
The Googe function is pretty visual…
But I had a hard time getting it to really do the danger of that place consistently…
It kind of shows how two lanes just become one lane on the blind turn, but it’s hard to really see it good…
Have you driven AP road lately?
Please take the time to drive from town to the river. Many unannounced one lane curves and such bad edges of the road in places.
Normally I agree that idiot drivers get theirs, but these road conditions are dangerous enough if you know the road and dont drive like an idiot.
After the Zenia fires Cal Fire told the county to fix AP rd, it was such a ruff ride and so dangerous for the firefighters.
If they dont feel safe getting to our neighborhoods we are f’d.
The county is indeed responsible when a hazardous situation is reported to them and they do nothing to repair it. That is a county responsibility road sir. There are laws.
You mean like a notorized letter from an attorney, demanding that they repair the missing lane?
Will that really be necessary?
I have personally notified them of this hazard. They were well aware of it at the time, they made that very clear.
They literally asked me what I thought they should do about it.
I mentioned the k rails, at a minimum.
Could they really, possibly represent, that they were unaware of the problem of a completely missing lane for over two decades?
After numerous vehicles were involved in accidents there?
What?
Is it a, “If it’s not in writing, it’s not binding”, sort of thing?
They installed K rails, and then removed them, without making a repair, or providing warning devices…
It’s unspeakable.
Let’s get it in writing this time, this person is getting medivaced out as we speak, that is, if they survive…
People should be responsible for themselves. This person wasn’t feeling well, and the others who crash there are either speeding or distracted. Deal with the real problem or take a seat!
Maybe they can make 299 wreck proof also
I agree with you. Single car wrecks means they didn’t take out an innocent fellow commuter!
He would be innocent if he had been forced off the road my friend.
Do you possibly contend that a lane that simply ceases without as much as a warning, and just suddenly drops into an abyss, on a blind turn, that has been that way for over 20 years, is in no way the county’s responsibility? It certainly is if there is an accident there involving a vehicle that encounters a no longer existent roadway, without warning, and plummets over the edge, to the demise of it’s occupants.
Their is a thing called acceptable roadway standards, like a building code.
The minimum acceptable roadway standards at this location, are very clearly, not being met.
And haven’t been, for literally, decades…
And that needs to be corrected, before anyone else gets hurt, due to the County negligence involved.
It’s as simple as that.
ABATE THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT.
$10,000 A DAY TIL IT’S FIXED.
BEST IDEA YET!!!
LETS GET A LAWYER AND DO IT!
WHADDYA THINK ED?? 🙂
I’m very aware of the spot you speak of. It appears from the pictures that this accident occurred just east of the narrowing, off the narrowing. There was talk at the scene that his previous illness may have contributed to the accident but that is unconfirmed.
Regardless, the place you speak of is very dangerous and has been for as long as I can remember, especially for those that don’t know it is there.
I agree it does appear in the pictures that the accident occured just east of the missing lane.
But it is very close…
It may not have been a factor in this accident, especially if the unfortunate driver was westbound, and crashed over the bank before even reaching the missing lane.
Thank you for acknowledging the dangerousness of the missing lane…
I have been anticipating another horrible accident there for many years, it’s just a matter of time, if the County does not repair it. And like I said, I travel Alderpoint Road enough that I have very nearly been in accidents at this location, and numerous times at the two narrow sections just above Dyerville Loop Rd, and the narrows above the switchbacks, where the man suffered major injuries recently, when he tumbled 110 yards over the very steep embankment.
I just wish they would do something, before it’s too late, again.
It’s kind of a wake up call, for the county, if nothing else…
Maybe someone should write them an official letter, just in case?
(Humor font) (respectfully)
🤔🧐Previous illness?
What could it possibly have been?
Could it be a “sign off the times”???
From approximately 1,000′ East of the accident site…
Oops, forgot this…🤷♂️🤦♂️
I hope the accident victim recovers quickly…
This seems like an inadequate warning, considering that it a warning was before the Carter Creek Narrows…
And only warned of the “RO NA”
Beware of the “RO NA”…
Meanwhile they are replacing miles of the AP roadway between Blocksberg and Bridgeville where no such hazards exist. . . I don’t get how they prioritize roadwork. . .
I complained on a public works website years ago about the same spots you mentioned, in addition to the spot south of Blocksburg, by Connelly creek where the downhill lane just. . . dissappears with basically no warning. . .
As someone driving these roads daily for a decade, I still get caught off guard
No pix. We an ambulance has been called. The guy who called it in is reported to be trying to hike down to the vehicle. Driver reported to have bleeding shoulder injuries. This is a mix of second hand scanner traffic and a bit of first hand report (after the accident, not eye witness)
Thank you for trying.
More pix of air ambulance chopper sent to you at kimkemp, didn’t see your request till now, can forward.
Yes, please forward to [email protected]. Kym hasn’t forwarded the new ones yet so she’s probably away from her phone.
I sure hope the Subaru driver is going to be ok. Probably was rolling down the steep embankment which caused the vehicle to be totaled. I pray that the next time this gentleman is not feeling good it would be wise to call 911 and request an ambulance ride to the hospital. He might have had a physical problem causing him to lose control of the car. I have a lot of faith in the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue team. They are a great group of people!!!
The photos help me understand the steep terrain, but a video of that blind corner would go a long way to help folks understand how crazy dangerous this curve is.
Feel terrible for driver, it’s baking down there and they are hurt and stuck in a car unable to escape.
Best to them.
Ya that curve there close to the bridge took a friend of mine over that edge about 10 years ago. Luckily Tom survived but his car didn’t. It was a real close call for him! He said the sun nailed him in the eyes and he couldn’t see where he was on the road.
Is he the one that landed upright, after a full rolling , high speed 360° twist, and landed it safely, with a passenger, and pets I believe, in the top of a tree?
Their camper shell and everything in the back of the truck, 80′ or more down in the bottom of Carter Creek?
Talk about a miracle…
I live out of the area. I contacted your Assemblyman, Jim Wood, when I had a concern about Spy Rock Road. http://www.a02.asmdc.org
He was great! He spoke to me, contacted the county, county called and we went ’round and ’round (guardrails or signs) to get to an agreement. As my luck would have it, your county breaks their area up into 3 sections for road repairs, and Spy Rock Rd just happened to be next on their schedule. The county put the signs up within a few months.
Find the right person and take action… it feels good to get stuff done!
“… Spy Rock Rd just happened to be next on their schedule.“
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
👍
Huge thanks to all who helped and to the intrepid photographers and reporters who told the tale. You all are AWESOME
What a community ❤