[UPDATE 3:52 p.m.: More photos] Crash in Eureka Sends Car Through Fence; At Least Two Taken to Hospital
One vehicle smashed through a fence and into a yard. [Screenshot from a video provided by a reader]
At least one person needed to be extricated from their vehicle, according to law enforcement speaking over the scanner.
Several people were taken to the hospital including one 17-year-old male.
Both vehicles will need flatbed tows to move them.
Video from reader shows the Ford Escape towards the end of the clip.
UPDATE 3:52 p.m.: The roadway is open. Here are two more photos from the scene provided by Susan Carns.
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Tell the EPD to slow Eureka down with radar units NOW!
Speeders have been around for almost a century, not the problem. The smart phone,heroine, meth,psych meds and gummy bears are new to the driving scene.
LEO’s have been keeping a check on dangerous drivers for the same amount of time. Drivers have driven impaired for that same period of time, IE. Alcohol, Cocaine and other drugs at the turn of the last century. Eureka is experiencing an epidemic of accidents that must be checked regardless of the reason.
What are the cops gonna do if the speed limit is set too high?
I spent some ineffective time trying to get Public Works to lower a speed limit on a County road in a short section. I got nothing but bad attitude from Tom Matson himself. The premise seemed to be that it was his responsibility to keep everyone moving as fast as possible.. even though this stretch might carry only 6-8 cars per hour. Instead of taking the cheaper option of switching a 35 mph sign with a 25, (actually I had put up my own signs, free! He didn’t appreciate it.) He went all the way to 11, hiring Cal trans to bring out their G-force Prius to check the turn. Absolutely ignoring the issue: the school bus stop, pedestrian children, pets, tourists, and business right on the curve. You better believe the County acknowledged the bus stop when there was cannabis roots 3 months out of the year, 601 feet away!
And how long the smart phone been a factor? Can’t remember the last time we had over 30,000,000 people on psych meds, if it’s a mind altering drug you shouldn’t be behind the wheel.
That’s no reason to ignore them…
Didn’t say to ignore them, I’m saying speeding and being high on psych meds, gummy bears , or on Facebook cause the increase in accidents. What til everyone gets their new car insurance premiums next , this sheet going through the roof. Crack me up , just another added cost to cover druggies.
Speeding is the problem mister it’s a me first world anymore . People don’t care about common curtesy
The problem is we don’t check people for pharmaceuticals , pain killers and psych meds are a real problem. If your mentally unstable, you shouldn’t be behind the wheel, you shouldn’t be allowed to have a gun. This sheet is ridiculous .
So that’s two accidents on Henderson about about 2 miles apart about 2 hours apart.
Isn’t it the same accident?
There is one accident here but two hours earlier there was a fatal accident. https://kymkemp.com/2023/11/07/fatal-crash-closes-h-i-and-j-streets-at-russ-in-eureka/
Radar units aren’t going to slow people down unless EPD has a dedicated traffic unit to educate the motoring public and enforce the traffic laws.
The education needs to be delivered with huge fines and maybe even jail time.
Wrong…Radar is a proven winner…
Fixed radar units and tickets mailed to offenders work quite
Radar with camera tickets.
Again, but in a different location than my first gripe, in Petrolia, through town, instead of changing a 35 mph sign to 25, the county spent WAY more money on a silly “you are going” radar sign.(posted 35) The thing that is so stupid: if you sat and observed, most drivers voluntarily drive at 25 there. It’s obvious that 35 is too fast for the conditions.
So of course today, the expensive sign is pushed over. Stupid. Waste. Of. Money.
There is a donut shop just off Henderson. They can watch from there.
Ite not a speed problem, it’s peoples extreme lack of judegement and selfishness problem
you know things happen. we’re human. and the reaction of the woman is extreme and feel bad that she had this happen because obviously she didn’t mean to kill the person. I feel very bad for the woman that passed away and I pray for her and her family I’m just saying that everyone makes mistakes and I do feel bad for this woman because she obviously isn’t an evil person just by her reaction alone. I hope everyone will be all right.
He was a baby he was my kids friend
I’m not following you?♀️.
Did a person pass away in this accident as well?
Also, I can’t find what the reaction was from a woman.
sheila, you may be responding in the wrong comments section. This may be the one you want.
https://kymkemp.com/2023/11/07/fatal-crash-closes-h-i-and-j-streets-at-russ-in-eureka/
That’s some major damage for driving the city speed limit.
People in Eureka, Fortuna and Mckinleyville, towns I drive through frequently are all hell on wheels. I’ve been passed in Fortuna while driving in School zones at the school speed both over the double yellow with left turn lanes and in the bike lanes. In Mckinleyville I get passed in school zones like I’m standing still. In Cutten I’ve had horns blown and been flipped off in school zones. Clearly people don’t care about anyone else, even kids. It’s sick.
I hear you!
Same thing I see here in Cutten and Ridgewood! Tailgating is ridiculous and is usually a certain age group?♀️
I believe they only read the 25 mph and don’t go 15mph as considered.
It’s the lack of enforcement by lazy officers being distracted by their cell phones, people drive according to what they can get away with for the most part
Kym, start an exclusive section called the Daily Crash.
The poor people who live in that house! That fence has been wiped out several times. Good thing it’s there or else those cars could end up inside their house!! I’m glad this one wasn’t fatal.
They replaced that fence about a year ago when the same thing happened
About a month ago I was at Renner getting fuel right next to an EPD officer. A gentleman from the next island came over and asked the officer if he could ask a question. The officer said yes. The question was asked if EPD officers are allowed to make traffic stops, because he had seen do many serious violations in front of them and they didn’t stop anyone. The officer replied that yes, they were allowed, but that there were so many other calls for service that due to staffing shortages most officers won’t make traffic stops due to lack of time.
I appreciate his honesty here. When will EPD and the City Council get to work on making a plan to attract officers? When will those same entities decide this is more important than stupidly wasting time making deals with PETA to display a stupid quilt and all the other BS that wastes the limited resources? Why is the ECC not aware of the negative impact this has on visitors? This is a YouTube I watched recently. Maybe the ECC and EPD need to watch it to get a new perspective. There is no real positive aspect of Eureka, especially the ECC.
https://youtu.be/fZ-k-93kpB8?si=UU3DslGyje6EaVMI
Too bad that couple did learn the pronunciations while they were here …
When I see speeders in eureka it is the police half the time, no lights or sirens, just driving like a bat outta hell. Sure, they probably have a little extra training. However when it becomes commonplace for them it is perceived as being acceptable for everyone else as well. Start by having law enforcement follow the law or replace them with officers who will. Then move on to the public.
In the last few months I have nearly been hit by EPD officers twice. Both times they were driving in my lane. So yes, EPD needs remedial driving classes for their officers. However, it’s the responsibility of each driver to drive safely. This means safe speed, leaving your overinflated ego at home, get off the $#&@ phone, and try for a change putting safely of others as your main priority. Unfortunately, Humboldt drivers refuse to care a d drive worse every day. Maybe we need mandatory “Active Driver” training.
Two word solution……unmanned radar
Say it with me, “SAFE DRIVING BEGINS WITH ME”.
EXACTLY ?
The illegally and dangerously recorded video from the passing driver for the win! NorCal drivers are the worst…
And the word for today, children, is: self-incrimination. Can you say that children? Self-incrimination. Remember, you can say it, but, don’t do it.
A car going 50 mph has 4 times more energy to cause damage and death than a car going 25.
I spent years living in Arcata and Eureka until a few years ago. Eureka’s population is around 27,000. Now live in a city of 200,000. I’m tellin’ ya: Per capita, Eureka has *WAY* more traffic accidents and deaths than my city. Eureka is astonsihingly dangerous to be a driver or pedestrian in – stressed me out big time being either one anytime I was out.
This was a kid that stole his mother’s car keys and went for a joyride. He didn’t have his drivers license yet. He was doing about 60mph when he changed lanes and hit the Escape broadside. These are the kids that are being raised today! No regard for anyone but themselves. No respect, no regret, no consequences and nothing is their fault! He almost ended a mother’s life just so he could have a thrill. I hope he is in jail and is never allowed to get behind the wheel again! I hope the mother is charged also because I don’t think this was the first time! Life is hard enough, we don’t need people like this!
I’m curious as to how you know this. I’m not taking issue, just wanted to know.
I’m the husband of the mother that was almost killed. The father of the little girl that almost lost her mother. Yes, I know more than the average person on this issue. When are prosecutors going to hold people accountable for their crimes? The police do what they can (or should I say what they are allowed to do) and I thank the EPD, fire department and medics who helped save my wife. I hope this 17 year old child is prosecuted to the full extent of the law! He is already a repeat offender at 17. Will he kill his next victim? Probably. Will he go to prison? Doubtful. Okay, there’s my rant. Sorry you asked.
Yes, too many Humboldt drivers feel that safety of others isn’t important to them. The blatant disregard for posted speed limits is only one factor. How many times do you see drivers unable to use their turn signals? How many times have you seen drivers driving with out headlights/tail lights?
It IS selfishness and a testament of the “me first” anti-society.
LEO’s are NOT LAZY. They are slammed, and often working overtime covering for missing personnel.
Excessive speed IS A PROBLEM and always was.
Distracted driving, be it distractions of modern autos, or smart phones, or lack of working wipers/defrosters, broken windshields IS A PROBLEM.
Safety features in modern autos IS A PROBLEM. Look at the massive windshield frames that now contain airbags. They blind drivers of significant & dangerous vantage on both sides of the autos. Modern autos have so many safety features that they have become fantastically dangerous.
The bar to earning a driver’s license is too low. I probably know 50 people who can not back into a parking space, or are unable to parallel park at all. I’ve seen drivers who are unable to drive straight and depend on car sensor alarms to warn them they are too close to lane markings.
Then there is the fact that Humboldt and its incorporated towns fail to maintain roadway surfaces and lane markings. Some areas drivers have to avoid roadway damage by swerving out of lanes.
Now a days, I find myself thrilled when I find myself among safe drivers, they have become so rare.