[Update: Vehicle Recovery] Highway 101 Collision Between Truck and Van Leaves One Critically Injured
A collision involving a truck tractor-trailer and a passenger van on the Willits Bypass section of Highway 101 early this morning resulted in one person sustaining major life-threatening injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officer Olegario Marin of CHP’s Ukiah Office told us the incident occurred at approximately 1:38 a.m. near MPM44 prompting a response from both California Highway Patrol’s Garberville Laytonville Resident Post and Ukiah Area Office.
Reports indicate that the van, identified as an Econo-type passenger vehicle, was stationary in the traffic lane without any illuminated lights when it was struck by a loaded truck and trailer. The truck’s driver, Geovanny Larreynaga from Carmichael, California, emerged uninjured from the collision.
However, the sole occupant of the van, identified as Grant Gosch from Cottonwood, California, sustained major life-threatening injuries. Gosch was promptly airlifted to Chico’s Enloe Hospital for medical treatment.
In the aftermath of the crash, Highway 101 remained open with one-way traffic control measures in place to facilitate vehicle recovery and scene cleanup.
As of 8:17 a.m., one-way traffic controls were still in place. The Caltrans QuickMap estimates that the roadway will be fully reopened by 11:01 a.m.
Update: The Ukiah CHP states that one-way-traffic in in place as vehicle recovery and cleanup takes place this morning at the scene of the collision. They ask that motorists use extra caution as emergency personnel are in the area.
Emergency crews are working to clear the collision scene. Use caution. [Photo from the CHP Ukiah Facebook page]
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No guess at what happened to the van but a major electrical malfunction could shut the engine and lights off. I hope the man survives his injuries.
A grey van in the fog at night is not that visible.
That was the problem. It happened a couple times when I was with him. He’s in critical condition. But he’s still with us. He moved his legs yesterday, but they are keeping him heavily sedated. And thank you for your kind words.
Hey Paula, do you know how i can get ahold of Grant???
Drivers need to expect objects in the roadway at anytime; day or night, and drive at a speed that allows for reaction and stopping in time to not hit the object. Otherwise, one is driving too fast for conditions. This is not my opinion; it’s the basic speed law, CVC 22350.
A van was at a full stop in it’s lane on the Avenue of the Giants yesterday. I stopped behind it, tooted my horn and getting no response pulled out and went around it. As I slowly and cautiously passed, the driver stared straight ahead as if in a daze never acknowledging my presence. This makes me wonder if it was the same guy.
We have to watch out for the photographers on the Ave…
It was extremely foggy on the Willits Bypass last night, I drove past this wreck about an hour later and the van was being recovered and the truck and trailer was on the East Side of the bypass, 80 feet off the roadway, the van looked as though it had been rear-ended on the drivers side and had separated the body from the frame. Initial Scanner reported that one person needed extrication from being trapped under vehicle. Hope everyone survived and recovers. This happened about the same time as the fire in Willits.