[UPDATE 10:33 a.m.] Major Injury Accident on Hwy 299 East of Junction City
A woman received major injuries after her vehicle went off Hwy 299 into the Trinity River east of Junction City near Highland Road at mile marker 43.69 early this morning, according to the California Highway Patrol Traffic Incident Information Page. At about 4:50 p.m. yesterday, the emergency dispatch center learned that a vehicle went off the road landing in the water. The front of the vehicle was completely submerged, according to first reports.
The single occupant was able to get out of the vehicle and climb on top of it. First reports from the scene indicate that a CHP helicopter came from Redding to help get the woman from her car in the river. The woman was then taken by ground ambulance to the hospital.
Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.
Note: the original post incorrectly stated the date and time. This has been corrected.
UPDATE 10:33 a.m.: Local resident Julie Anne Porteous wrote us, “It was so freaky to not know if anyone else was in the vehicle with her. I was terrified that maybe there was a child in a car seat or some thing…[The vehicle] was getting swept by the current.” Porteous said that her friend was trying to keep up with the vehicle as it was moving. “But then,” she told us, “it seems like it maybe got caught on some rocks or something because it seem to be stagnant by the time the forest service and the highway patrol got there.”
Another view of the vehicle being moved downstream as a woman is on top. [Photo by Julie Anne Porteous]
Woman hanging on vehicle as it is moving downstream. [Photo by Julie Anne Porteous]
Zoom in on the photo.
UPDATE: Rescue on the Trinity River: CHP Release More Information on Saturday’s Crash
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This accident happened yesterday afternoon.
Kym, I was the 911 caller. I have photos if you’d like them.
Julie, thank you for pointing out that I had read this incorrectly. I’ve fixed the article and pointed out my error. God, that was awful. Thank you!
Yes, I would like photos. And thank you for getting help for that poor woman.
Hello Kym, I am the one who saw the actual accident and stopped others to help with the accident. I have video when she was pulled out of the water.
Hello Eli
Are you a man that has curly dark hair and was sitting on the embankment above?
I ask cause if so, thank you. The lady there is my wife. Her brave and bad ass climbed to the roof of the car despite having a severely broken ankle and 2 fractured vertebrae. She told me specifically there was some man on the side that kept encouraging her and stayed there. She wanted to thank that person and send a letter or a card. She was most grateful for that individual. Its a miracle she is alive.
On a happier note: the treads are pretty funny all around and the comments of the fishermen below… makes me think of the end of the movie Old School, with the car falling on the dean.
Hello Richard,
No I am not. I am the one who saw her car go over. There wasn’t another car close by for at least 2-3 minutes. My wife and Julie were the ones to call 911. I flagged down several cars to help me check on her at first and try and find out if there were others with her. Nobody would have seen her down there. It happened so fast. Im glad she made it out. So happy she is alive and with you.
I was in the white suv on the side of the road when you arrived and left once I saw her brought down to safety with the medical team.
Thank you so much. It been a ride – these last couple of days. Many blessings….
I can only imagine. You are very welcome. Sending many well wishes and praying for a speedy recovery.
Omg! You and your wife were so calm and amazing while I felt like a complete whacko! Thank you for staying calm, and please give thanks to your wife. That was intense.
Thank you for stopping and helping. I thought you were so calm on the phone with 911. Yes it was very intense, but very happy for the ending. Cheers to everyone involved, from medical personnel, sheriffs, fish and game, chp, everyone who stopped and helped. To Richard and his wife. We hope and pray for a speedy recovery and well wishes.
She’s a keeper for sure.
This information is incorrect. I called 911 at 4:50 pm yesterday. This did not occur this morning.
NO it happened at 4ish pm I was there , y’all get stuff incorrect so often want pics we have them!
What is the point of a generalized and unsubstantiated criticism? You’re here reading, using the site. You are welcome to try your hand at journalism. She got what matter the most correct..only the time was in accurate and i don’t know if that was even her mistake nor was it a significant, vital error given the report is long after the fact. Not like she was calling in an accident to 911. Nice that you offered photos.
I don’t know. I’m with Mike on this one. I really screwed up.
Kym went with the information given. Not everyone is perfect. Cut some slack, Mike. It was a horrible situation and everyone seems to be safe. I probably spoke with you at the scene. I’m not sure?
How much more often this site gets things right, though!
Be nice
And incorrectly said she has major injuries she told me she broke her ankle. The car suffered major injuries.
I was wrong about the time. Thank you for pointing that out and for doing so much to help that poor woman. But the CHP reports broken limbs as major injuries.
How about giving Mike a reporter job?
Snort…another person under the delusion that we have extra money here.
At first she was still in the car we had been pretty scared indeed then she crawled on top at least , but she must of been on top of that car for a good while before the helicopter arrived we left after she was in the river for a good fifteen minutes. Not looking for employment just witnessed a scary accident probably be a very long time before I see anything like that again.
That sounds awful. Especially when you aren’t sure if there is anyone else inside.
So You left when she was in the river? On top of her car???!!!
Probably a little hypothermia too. Brrr. I’m glad she’s okay.
A broken bone is a major injury.
Mike, are you an EMT? I think that I actually did speak with you while I was on the phone with the dispatcher?
That was one lucky woman
How to scare yourself almost to death. I am happy to hear she was able to exit the vehicle and get on the roof. Thank God there were no children or babies inside. That could have been a watery grave. Thank you to the CHP and their chopper pilot for getting her to dry land. I hope she will heal completely from the injuries she may have received.
Yes. I don’t know if lucky applies to a very planning kind of group but indeed a lot more people would be a lot worse off without such people to call when needed. And respect to those who stop to help.
Yup. Here’s a side story.
Almost saw a watery grave 50 years ago. Eel river was running mid-level for late spring.
Guy with a Ford Bronco (early model) tried to cross the river… with his wife and kids in it !
River killed the engine midway, spun them and took the Bronco downstream… rushing water was up to the door handles. I was one of a dozen people standing on shore… but there was no way that a person could get out to it.
In a feat of luck… we had a CAT 980 bucket loader and operator with us. Loader was a loaner from Mercer-Frazier. Thank you, Fred Bott, (now deceased).
The 980 went out there, put the bucket alongside the window and took the passengers to shore. Second trip.. he and the Bronco driver went out there and hooked a chain to the bumper and pulled it ashore. The loader operator was a hero that day. A big thanks to him too, if he is still alive.
I dunno what would have happened if the loader hadn’t been there.
That is one interesting story for sure. Thank you for sharing as I had not heard about this before. I think without that loader being present and a man skilled in its operation, perhaps no one would have survived.
ol Fred was a good man
Yikes! Must of been terrifying waiting to be rescued. I wish her a speedy recovery.
Great job reporting on this. None of my other “local news” sites made any mention of it.
Of course they didn’t! Kym is THE SHIT!!! In the good way!?
My worst nightmare right there. Glad she was rescued and hope she recovers real soon.
I hear she soaked her ankle in cold water so that helps with the swelling.
Cold water? From where?!???
I once asked CalTrans to build guard rails along that area of 299 to keep cars out of the river. Rocks, ice, rain, and reckless drivers are a forever risk to humanity in that space. Cal Trans argued that building guard rails wouldn’t help because most of the carnage was caused by drunk drivers. Go figure
How fast was she going in order to shoot that far off the road and land in the middle of the river?
I’m glad she didn’t hurt innocent traveler’s or fishermen.
Reading the story she wasn’t in the middle of the water to start. The article says her front end was in the water and later the car drifted further out. There is nothing to say she was going fast or not. Once the car was off the road, it was going down the slope and into the water.
Cell service is spotty through that section, atleast she ran off the road where there was cell service. Most accidents anymore get lucky that way, definitely no connection or is there? Crack me up
Going to take a gander and say it was west of JC. The Highway leaves the river east of JC.
Regardless, 299 is not forgiving. She was lucky in her unluckiness.
This is roughly where the CHP site showed the crash.
Thank you. I stand corrected. I forgot about that jog in the river.
That’s a great phrase- “lucky in her unluckiness.” A more precise way of saying “it could have been worse.”
Excellent info.
FYI, just west of this accident where the river bends south, is the spot where miners tried to divert the river through a tunnel. The openings to the tunnel were sealed (you can still see the patch) after a Mckinleyvilel HS teacher (Carl Chatfield) was sucked into the tunnel and disgorged back into the river at the other end while on a rafting (air mattresses) trip.
I think this was in the 1970s. Carl survived his trip through the tunnel and bore the head scars–a result of striking the ceiling of the tunnel. His wife, who was on another air mattress, fainted as Carl was drawn toward the tunnel. She recovered later.
I haven’t driven east of Willow Creek for years. The last time I did, I stopped at the store near Junction City where the owner mentioned someone had survived going through the tunnel.
I don’t know if this story was ever mentioned in the media.
I know of the tunnel near Big French Creek. Is there another closer to Junction City?
Where is Big French Creek?
Just east of Del Loma
That curve is a steep drop. One wheel off the road and it is likely you’re straight down into the river. Brakes would do nothing. She is very very lucky there were caring people there who witnessed and helped get the resources to her.
299 can be so deadly. Two friends of mine died when a cement truck driver drove them and one other car off the side of that highway, 300 feet down a cliff. THREE people died because he was coked up and driving too fast. Slow down, live longer.
She must have been craving surfing and this was the only way to get the high! Lol…
What in the AF is wrong with you? This was terrifying. It’s not a joke.
Kym is on point. Eli and his wife and my best friend Mike made a team effort. It was a scary situation but she is safe. Eli, you staying so calm was a breath of fresh air. And your wife is so sweet and beautiful. ❤️