[UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: Witness Description of the Aftermath] Fatal Crash Closes H, I, and J Streets at Russ in Eureka

With a 25 or 30 mile speed limit how fast were they going to cause that devastating miss hap.

When was the last time you saw a car pulled over for speeding on H or I Streets? I haven’t seen one and drivers on those streets often pass me driving in excess of 50+ MPH. I have contacted the EPD and their Chief of Police about this dangerous and deadly situation many times. I requested the EPD place radar units on H and I Streets to slow the traffic down to prevent injury or death. This is a reliable and proven tactic. I never received a reply. Now we see the results of a complacent police department that can’t even control basic speed laws with proven tactics. It’s time for a change of leadership at the EPD. We demand a police department that will aggressively slow Eureka drivers down NOW, to prevent most of the accidents and injuries we see daily. The status quo is unacceptable.

According to a witness, the truck ran a red light, got broadsided, and rolled multiple times. The driver survived and the passenger didn’t.

‘Henderson and I’ was legendary for accidents. They were most often caused by a driver running a red light on Henderson. Henderson, nice long run with no stop signs.

IMHO: Eureka should make a 4 way stop at Henderson and J… or maybe ‘Ost’. Might cut down on the number of accidents when they hit the stoplight.

So freakin’ sad…all the years I lived in Eureka I NEVER saw a cop pull anyone over, ever. The EPD doesn’t police traffic. Not sure what they do all day but it isn’t slowing the raging speeders. Driving up there is like being in a pin ball machine! EPD, do your job!

My mother got into an accident at that intersection back in 1970. I was about 4 years old at the time and was in the car. It was the same exact scenario, distracted driver running a red light on I street. My mother was driving her relatively new Plymouth Valiant. My father, who was a car racing buff, added after market seatbelts to that car which did not come with them and also fabricated and installed a roll bar. The woman who ran the red light and hit us may well have been drunk, but this was before DUI was enforced. I remember the day well because it was so traumatic even though remarkably no one was injured. My little brother was also in the car in the front seat. I am not sure things would have come out so well if my father had not put the seatbelts in that car. I have seen my mother pissed off a few times over the years, but let me tell you I saw a fiery in her eyes that day I have not seem before or since. I remember my mother yelling at the woman telling her that she almost killed her kids which in fact was true. I think my mother’s reaction was more fear driven than anything else. I remember the woman who ran the light was sobbing and sobbing saying that she had just left her husband who was cheating on her or something like that. To this day when I am the lead car on Henderson at that stop light, I pause to check that all the cars are actually stopping on I street. Sometimes this pisses people off behind me, but hey, my hair is gray now so I just write it off to an older gentleman’s driving habits. I would though ask that all who drive this intersection be patient with the cautious drivers like myself. There have been numerous occasions over the years where I have witnessed people running the red on I street at that intersection and been glad for my caution.