[UPDATE] Crash Kills Passenger on Hwy 162
Press release from CHP:
On August 16, 2022 at approximately 1:20 AM, Jose Piedra Villasenor was driving a red Ford Ranger east on SR-162 west of mile post marker 8.30 with his passenger seated in the front right passenger seat. For reasons still under investigation, the Ford Ranger left the north roadway edge, became airborne and overturned several times down a steep embankment. While the Ford Ranger was overturning Jose Piedra Villasenor was ejected from the vehicle. The Ford Ranger then came to rest on its roof and the passenger sustained fatal injuries as a result of this collision. The passenger’s name is being withheld until notification of kin. Jose Piedra Villasenor was air lifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where he was treated for moderate injuries.
The California Highway Patrol, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Laytonville Fire Department, Little Lake Fire Department, and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the scene. This collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol – Garberville Area.
UPDATE: The CHP reports, “The passenger of the Ford Ranger was identified as Jose Luis Rivera Soto from Mexico. The traffic collision is still under investigation by the CHP Garberville office.”
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My condolences to the family and friends of the person that was killed in that accident. May they RIP. I don’t know why his Ranger left the road, but it could have been speed, mechanical failure, or a medical issue for Mr. Villasenor. Being thrown out sounds like he did not have his seatbelt on. But maybe in this case it saved his life.
Martin, I wholeheartedly agree with you, and I hope family and injured heal. But almost all accidents you comment on, you speculate on cause. It could be one you mention or others. It could have, might have, looks like or whatever. ……are you trying to be the finalist on guess the reason why?
No Miguel. I just made a comment on what I thought might have been the problem. I am not a finalist at all. If you don’t like my comments, please feel free to not read them. I guess you like to throw rocks instead of making your own comment. Read Daniel’s comment below and pick on him now.
Not having his seat belt on definitely saved his life drivers side was smashed even more then the passengers side
These types of situations are tragic. Covelo has more than its share of challenges. Over 50% of the emergency response calls in Mendocino County originate in Covelo. A large number of CPS and detention cases originate out of Covelo. The local governments have received millions of dollars in funding and yet it seems nothing has been addressed. Thousands of broken down cars, piles of garbage. Abandoned hoop houses blowing in the wind. Sure there are a few who are proud and stand tall trying to elevate things to a better place. Yet, it never comes because of this behind the fence world that everyone lives. One side of the fence it looks perfect and normal in our Nikes and clean clothes. On the back side of the fence we’re still beating this s*** out of each other when the kids run around in dirty diapers far past potty training age, sucking on empty beer cans. No joke. it sucks and something better needs to happen. May the passenger rest in peace and if this was a DUI situation hopefully that will be addressed. Maybe it’s time to start putting some cameras up on the 162 for Speed checks and other inappropriate suspicious driving detected remotely. The Whippet canisters and empty beer cans line the roadway for the entire 30 miles every pull out pretty much. Then issue the citations via the mail. I was coming out of Covelo the other day and this driver was obviously DUI drifting over the double yellow lines on the blind corners. Slowing down, speeding up doing all this crazy stuff. Pulling over letting me pass then coming back up on my ass . It was some drunken dumb ass shifty shenanigans for sure. UGH!!! no cell phone reception. Couldn’t do anything about it. I attempted to grab the license plate number a few times but the driver saw me and flipped me off and waved his arms out the window. It was a super beat up little silver older Kia with damage to the passenger fender and front bumper. By the time I hit the 101 he sped up abd continued weaving his way south. You cant make this shit up. ?
I live in covelo yha it’s frustrating seeing things the way they are one thing I learned is you can’t change people there going to keep doing crazy stuff because that’s what they like to do life in the circle is a bit different than other places that’s for sure but it’s a good place to live
While Covelo obviously ranks high on the # of emergency calls in Mendo per population, I seriously doubt it runs anywhere near up to 50%.
Have any data to support your claim?
I listen to the scanner all day….Ukiah, Willits, & FB PDs; MCSO, CHP, F&G, USFS; Howard Forest Dispatch, Calfire, all the VFDs, USFS, etc.
I don’t have the #s tracked but I think you are soundly incorrect…nicest thing I can say about it, is that I’m relatively certain you are, at the least, embellishing to support your view.
https://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/2021/04/18/assignment-ukiah-in-covelo-harsh-realities-setting-in
There are also several articles that came out around the same time. Board of Supervisors were also talking about it in the budgets and the amount of calls out there and that time it takes to respond. Haven’t been able to locate that mention yet but I remember reading it somewhere. I generally don’t talk without having information that I’ve gathered via personal experience or read.
Howard forest routes a lot of the 911 calls in the Northern sector. Thats whay it seems you hear Howard a lot on the scanner they filter out from there.
That link is for a “Letter to the Editor” Opinion piece in the urinal, not an Article by a Reporter.
It’s a cannabis hit piece by a logger who does accurately quote Sheriff Kendall about Covelo…but nothing more.
I didn’t mention anything about hearing Howard Forest a lot, though that is true for very clear reasons.
Howard Forest is the Primary Dispatch for all of Mendo, not just the northern sector.
They transceive on a county wide multi-repeater system that can be heard in much of Humboldt, Trinity, Lake, & Sonoma counties with a decent antenna on a marginal radio.
They can select which repeaters to tone (activate) with each radio call.
The center of the county repeater system is on Laughlin…that’s true for gov agency dispatch and the HAM repeater sys too.
Unless a 911 call is routed to a separate specific agency (UPD, CHP, etc) or you call a Non-Emergency # @ a specific agency, Howard Forest handles, agency choice, resource selection, and dispatch;…is a bit of a grey area with respect to the “cities”; and they don’t dispatch to fed agencies.
MM 8.30 is just on the east side of the bridge, yes?
At the trestle fork yes.