[UPDATE 4:20 p.m.] Big Rig Vs Utility Pole on Broadway; Traffic Tangled
A big rig struck a utility pole on Broadway. The Eureka Police Department has shut down South Broadway between 14th Street and Washington Street, according to their Facebook post.
EPD is detouring traffic along Washington Street to Koster Street and back to 14th Street while crews work to clear the scene.
There is no estimated time of reopening.
Drivers are advised to use caution and expect delays in the area.
Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.
UPDATE 4:20 p.m.: Our photographer Ryan Hutson took photos and video from the scene. She told us:
Utility crews continue work on Broadway following a possible hit-and-run involving a big rig.
A wide-load truck clipped the edge of a utility pole on Broadway in Eureka, leading to a response from PG&E, which has shut down access to the block while repairs are underway. Initially, PG&E requested that CHP pull over the driver and have them return to the scene, but authorities indicated that it may not be considered a hit-and-run if the driver was unaware of the damage. According to PG&E’s Outage Map, three customers are without power.
The driver did return and explained to our reporter that the load was a piece of a ducting system for the Humboldt Sawmill property and is part of a system designed to suck up and remove ash.
PG&E has confirmed they have a replacement pole, but there is no timeline yet for when the repairs will be completed. A second PG&E crew has arrived, and both southbound lanes remain blocked as work continues.
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We were warned about that exact pole in CR’s trucking school. Maybe it won’t be leaning into the road after this.
Did the wide load driver have a permit and a pilot car?
They had a pilot car. Don’t know about the required permit. O&M, the company that built the steel structure has a good reputation.
Skillful driving of a big rig. You can’t tell me that the driver did not know he had done that much damage to a utility poled. PG&E had every right to have the CHP stop the driver and return him to the scene. At least he maned up and came back on his own. It is a little funny to me that the load was a machine that is used to suck up ash (holes)! If the pole had collapsed into traffic someone could have been seriously injured or killed.
Hats off to the PG&E lineman .. That’s a huge job, especially right THERE on hw101 without prior notice. You guys are amazing!
It was a one ton Flat bed pickup NOT A TRUCK get it right
Last I checked a pick up is also commonly known as A TRUCK or did you mean tractor trailer?. Either way it was wide enough. But uh, is that a tiny house bomb shelter or something?
Looks like a 2-1/2 ton truck (Class 5). Just has a single axle.
For sure, it is not a ‘big rig’. Was towing a flat bed utility trailer.
Pretty typical for a Hot Shot.
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>”But uh, is that a tiny house bomb shelter or something?”
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Nope. Looks like a large collector for an industrial air system.
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Orie and Mac… they were specialized in large air systems.
Did a lot of work in the sawmills, planing mills, and flake board plants.
They are stating “A BIG RIG ” that classes a semi truck . Not trying to be picky but it makes the Big Rig Profesional driver look bad ,the picture clearly shows a flat bed one ton looking like O and M industry moving a Industrial hood of some kind. BESIDES the pole it hit has had a mean lean for years maybe now it will be straight
Looks like a flatbed truck pulling a trailer. Yes, it is not a tractor & semi-trailer commonly referred to as a ‘semi’ but it is indeed a ‘truck’.
It’s not a big-rig like the title calls it, but it’s a truck like in the show, if it fits it ships
A pickup IS a truck. See, there are different types of “truck.” Covid sure messed up public education. Wow. Maybe try on-line remedial classes.
Say what you want about corporate PG&E, but the lines people are amazing. Look at how they stabilized the one shred of the pole was left. Kudos.
Where are the traffic cops to handle this, so the patrol guys can handle what they need to handle? Oh yeah….Eureka doesn’t have any. Things like this keep adding up, which lead to burnout real quick. No wonder why Eureka PD will always be a stepping stone agency.
Get out the duct tape…