CHP Releases Information on Fiery Crash That Claimed Lives of Three
Press release from the Humboldt Office of the California Highway Patrol:
Fiery crash north of Rio Dell. [Photo by Lauren Johnson]
On January 21, 2024, at approximately 2237 hours, CHP Humboldt Communications Center (HCC) received a report of a Toyota truck traveling wrong-way, northbound in the southbound lanes of US 101. At approximately 2243 hours, HCC received a report of a head-on traffic crash in the southbound lanes of US 101 at Metropolitan Road. After the crash, both vehicles were disable and became fully engulfed in flames. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and located a 2015 Toyota Tacoma and a 2010 Mercedes Benz C300 blocking the lanes. An unidentified driver was located inside the Toyota whom was determined by medical personnel on scene to be deceased. An unidentified driver and an unidentified passenger were located inside the Mercedes Benz who were determined by medical personnel on scene to be deceased. At this time, it is unknown exactly where the wrong-way Toyota entered US 101. It is also unknown at this time if drugs and/or alcohol contributed to the cause of this crash. The CHP Humboldt Area office is continuing its investigation and asks anyone who may have additional information to contact the California Highway Patrol at 707-822-5981.
Earlier: [Update Reopened] Hwy 101 Shutdown in Both Directions After Fiery Head-on Crash North of Rio Dell
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So very very sad ???
Such a very sad read. Three lives lost in the blink of an eye. My condolences to their families and friends.
Alcohol is a hellava drug.
While 70% of wrong way, head on collisions are alcohol related, 100% of jumping the gun, accusing people without relevant data post are unnecessary and unhelpful. How about wait until you know they were drunk or on drugs before talking ish.
Because there may not be any further information or, if there is, it may be so long in coming that there would be no interest. Applicable to this accident or not, that comment is never wrong.
75% of wrong way drivers are indeed DUI. And I happen to believe it’s ok to prognosticate that that is most likely what happened here. And no I don’t feel a need to wait. Just like I’m 99% sure you don’t like me, but I’m 100% sure I don’t care?
Maybe they were British?
My first thought as well…
Yes
Well if it wasn’t alcohol or drug related they never shoulda had a driver’s license in the first place.
So damned sad, that effing stretch of 101
And those effing drunk drivers.
This was a person driving the wrong way.
Hard to blame the road here.
I was wondering, cuz there is a center cable divider
Entirely correct.
They were not from here. They got on the freeway in Scotia going up the first on ramp instead of going under the freeway and to the left. Sunday night…heavy rain…no one on the road. I would say unfortunately an out-of-towner who took a wrong turn.
How do you know this? Did you know the person or were you there because they still have not released the names of those involved in the accident. I’m sure most people know of the victims that were in the car as she was a very well known and loved member of the community. However no further info has be released yet to my knowledge at least not that I can find anyways
Is that why the were doing donuts in front of the bar in Rio Dell prior to getting on the freeway the wrong way? They were from out of town? And yes, I do know that. Not from out of town, simply drunk and stupid. The individual passed two points where there were passthroughs where they could have realized they were on the wrong side if they were simply “not from here” they also passed two points where there were 10 foot arrows pointing at them as they drove the wrong way. The police were already looking for the vehicle because it was called in for the donut incident. This was not some hapless driver. The person who had to swerve out of the path of the wrong-way driver an instant before the crash noted he didn’t even brake. Out of towner??? I think not. Now a single mother and her 9 year old daughter have lost their chance at a future. I guess the only saving grace was it was so quick, they likely didn’t even have time for fear.
Well put!