[UUPDATE 3:20 p.m.: Traffic Normal, Video of Backup] Multiple Vehicle Collision on Rio Dell Bridge Blocks Northbound 101

A multi-vehicle collision on the Rio Dell Bridge near mile marker 54.5 along northbound Highway 101 occurred around 1:10 p.m. today, resulting in blocked lanes and delays. The incident, which involved at least three vehicles, a 3/4 ton GMC pickup, a Nissan Altima, and a Ford Expedition, was initially reported as a tire coming off a vehicle, causing a near-miss and eventual collision. All northbound lanes are reportedly blocked as crews work to manage the situation.
According to the California Highway Patrol’s Traffic Incident Information Page, emergency responders were dispatched to the scene, including City Ambulance.
At 1:23 p.m., Rio Dell Police Department (RDPD) was advised to access the scene via the Davis exit on southbound 101 and re-enter northbound to assist with the response. The Fortuna Police Department (FOPD) was also notified and sent officers to the location. A patient at the scene was reportedly uncooperative.
As of the latest update, there was no estimated time for clearing the scene, and drivers in the area are advised to proceed with caution.
Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.
UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: One northbound lane has been reopened, hopefully, traffic will return to normal soon.
UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: The roadway is clear now, according to Caltrans Quickmpa. This video below by Megan Essig shows when traffic backed up.
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Timely, thank you Kym and Co
Hope no one was injured.
Passing on that narrow bridge should be STRICTLY prohibited…
I’ve seen plenty of people jockeying for position, bobbing and weaving, Jose Swervo-ing trying to thread the needle, on that narrow bridge that has only steel girders for “shoulders”…
People are nuts, that bridge isn’t meant to be a Grand Prix, Le Manns, and/or The Indy 500…
It’s a super sketchy field sobriety and basic driver safety test…
Passing on that bridge, especially while changing lanes, weaving back and forth, is completely insane…
That’s what happens when you learn how to dive by playing video games, where there are no meaningful consequences for screwing up and nobody else’s conditions matter at all. Not that I am down on driving games (or shooters or whatever), but people are spending so much time in their digital worlds that they don’t recognize the real one. That is scary.
This is a bunch of BS. it has everything to do with someones ability to drive a car and maneuver safely. I grew up with games like need for speed and dont drive like an idiot.
The answer 99% of the time isnt the dangers of this or that, but rather the dangers of being stupid.
I am a little confused…did you witness the collision? I read the post and didn’t see anything about wreckless driving, lane changing, or exactly how the crash happened, other than a tire coming off a vehicle.
Can you give me more information about who changed lanes, who swerved, or who was speeding?
it was the video gamer, he passed the tik toker on the bridge and caused the whole thing.
To your first statement, “Fair enough”…
To your first question, “No”…
To your second question…”That would be impossible.”, (See answer to question #1)
My turn…
What part of my previous observations from traveling over that bridge for many decades indicated to you that I had witnessed the collision…???
Do you ever remember driving over that bridge when it was a two way bridge…???
Fatals were not uncommon on the south end of that bridge, at the dog leg, back in the day that it was two way…
I forgot one other observation…
It’s a really bad idea to traverse that bridge while being any part of a cluster of closely crowded vehicles…
That’s an accident waiting to happen…
Set up, in your vehicle, to cross that bridge, well in advance, with maximum space in front of you, behind you, and beside you…
There is often debris on that bridge, with nowhere to go…
I still have a very nice, heavy duty extension ladder which I recovered just north of the bridge, just in the nick of time to prevent the accident(s) it would have likely caused…
Safe travels…
The northbound bridge was the original 101 bridge before the southbound bridge was built in the 80s. It is interesting that the same section (the northerly part) was destroyed twice in floods.
I agree with your comment 100%. The problem seems to be that many drivers just don’t give a damn about other drivers on the road. If caught weaving back and forth for no reason it would be nice if a law enforcement spotted them and arrested each one and hauled them to jail to appear before a judge and have their vehicle impounded and their license revoked for about six months. If caught again given them some good hard jail time along with some community service when released. These “idiots” are responsible for deaths every year.
Wrong video posted
Fixed. Thank you!
Video is of Highway 36…???
Fixed. Thanks for catching.