‘Please Send Everybody’: Local Family Aids Crash Victims on Hwy 299
Emergency crews respond to the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 299 west of Willow Creek on Monday evening. A vehicle lies overturned off the shoulder as responders assess the situation. [Photo from a passerby]
MaKayla Coleman and Jessica Harbert were driving just behind the wreckage, near mile marker 36, on Monday, July 14, when the crash unfolded in front of them. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of the Caltrans vehicle—traveling eastbound—is believed to have fallen asleep at the wheel, drifting into oncoming traffic and striking a GMC Yukon carrying two adults and four children.
“It was like a freak accident,” Coleman recalled. “[The Caltrans vehicle] crossed over the double yellow line and hit the GMC. The GMC flipped and hit the guardrail… I put my car in park, put my hazards on, in like a split second, and just took off running towards the Caltrans [vehicle] because [it was] closer to me, and tried to rip the…door open.”
The door on the Caltrans vehicle didn’t open and Coleman was drawn across the road by the sound of screams. “I looked down to my right and saw the 10 year old sitting there,” she said. “I opened the back door and the passenger side to get the three-year-old out. I unbuckled her, she was upside down.” Coleman says she screamed for Harbert who was on the phone with 911 who was directing people to come over to open the door of the Caltrans vehicle.
A CHP officer investigates the crash scene next to the wrecked Caltrans SUV [Photo by MaKayla Coleman]
Coleman told us, “I get three-year-old out…I help get the 12-year-old out, who’s in the middle of the second row. And then mom comes over after I got the 12 year old out, she crawls back in and gets the [2]-year-old. So there’s four girls, four little girls, a mom and a dad.”
A number of others pitched in to help including Coleman’s two kids. She told us, “My, my six year old, called 911, as well, a few times and said, ‘I’m children. Please send everybody, cops, like firefighters, airplanes. Just send everybody, you can please….My 12-year-old hopped out of the car, brought us blankets, pillows, waters, sat with the 10-year-old, talking to her, making sure she was staying awake. He She was a huge help.'”
With multiple victims and only a limited number of emergency vehicles available, triage quickly became a complex operation. According to CHP, officers in these situations begin prioritizing injuries immediately and rely heavily on ambulance crews and volunteer fire departments to guide care once they arrive.
The scope of the crash required emergency workers to make rapid decisions about how to transport several patients with varying levels of injury. Coleman said that three of the children were sent in one ambulance to a hospital, while the mother, baby, and Caltrans driver were placed together in another ambulance en route to a different hospital. The father who had been seriously injured was also taken to the hospital.
In rural areas like eastern Humboldt County, these resource limitations are common. Ambulances may need to carry multiple patients, especially when the number of injured exceeds available vehicles or when advanced trauma centers are hours away.
One of the vehicles involved in Monday’s crash on Highway 299 rests overturned on the guardrail near mile marker 36. [Photo from a passerby]
While professionals worked to stabilize the scene, Coleman, Harbert, and other bystanders provided initial care—holding the children, calming them, and monitoring their injuries.
Coleman and Harbert, who stayed at the scene for nearly two hours, eventually followed the ambulance carrying the children to ensure they arrived safely. With the mother unable to be with all her daughters at once, the pair helped coordinate updates from doctors and stayed so the girls would have familiar faces nearby.
Reflecting on the harrowing event, Coleman downplayed the term hero. “I don’t want to feel like a hero…It was very scary,” she said. “[But Jessica] is truly the one that was sane the whole time.”
Despite the chaos, the actions of two women and numerous other passersby made a critical difference on a terrifying day on Highway 299. Their quick thinking, compassion, and refusal to ignore the crisis likely saved lives.
Earlier: Crash on Hwy 299 Temporarily Closed the Road, Three Children Involved
Update: Can You Help?: Family of Six Struggles After Highway 299 Crash Leaves Dad in ICU, Daughter Airlifted
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Great article. Great + energy.
“I’m screaming at people, like, just get him out of the fucking car.”
I know it was a harrowing experience for the passerbys, but try not to do this!
Don’t scream at anybody. I can’t think of a circumstance where it helps. Imagine being the patient!
Most of the time you don’t want to yank the patient out of the car. We could make a spinal injury worse. Usually, what appears to be smoke is actually from the airbag deployment, and steaming coolant. Be cool, keep your head, don’t make things worse by getting hurt. Any of us could come across something like this. When driving, imagine having to call 911 and describe where you’re at. Which direction? What exit did you just pass, what the mileposts say…
Good advice from a professional. However, this lady only had a great big heart and a helping hand. Yes she is a hero!
If I were in an accident I would be glad that she was there screaming neccessary instructions. Big hugs to her and all the other rescuers.
I totally agree. I stopped at a car accident where a child had part of her skull opened. But in this case the car caught on fire. It was smoking but no immediately fire. A few minutes later the car burst into flames, set the surrounding vegetation on fire. By that time getting that child out meant risking getting caught in a fire. No body except professionals (and maybe not even them) should be expected to know what’s coming.
Agreed. An overturned car like that, the first thought is to get them away from possible fire if they can move on their own.
I was screaming because no one was around so I was yelling at people pulling up since they were far away and it was so loud as well I wasn’t panicking I was getting my point across there was gas leaking and smoke someone ended up putting it out he needed out of the car you weren’t there you don’t know and yes they laid him down immediately following removal holding his neck just as I was with the 10 year old I would love to see how you were react watching the incident happen and then needing to run and help everyone by yourself …
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
❤️❤️❤️❤️your definitely a hero…
Thank you so much for helping
I would say you were definitely their Angel that was there at the right moment to make sure those children were safe and calm. Ppl like you are one in a million and that family was lucky to have you there. In a chaotic moment very few ppl are able to hold it together to put others first. An ANGEL for sure!
You have nothing to apologize for. You are amazing. Shame on anyone trying to suggest otherwise. Thank you for helping them all.
I get it. I see I might be coming off like a dick, but it’s because Ive been there. I’ve been right behind a garbage truck flipping over, cars roll over in front of my house, been present at weird medical issues on commercial airlines. These are all as a regular civilian beyond all the strange things I see as a volunteer firefighter. My message is for everyone else. This will happen around you eventually. Be calm think clearly and act decisively. The patients and family might be watching and listening!
Ok, maybe a funny story that illustrates a much more risky and less helpful, but good intentioned “rescuer”…
I came off a side street onto 4 Lane Mission Blvd, and there was a head-on collision. A drunk guy went into the oncoming lanes across from me . I pulled over and called 911, and went over. An older lady immediately ran up and out into traffic to lay hands on the driver and PRAY! Fire Services were very quick down there in an urban environment. The only helpful thing I did was urge the Good Samaritan to at least move over to the sidewalk out of traffic and pray without direct pressure so the firefighters could help the driver out of the car.
Ok, a less funny second hand story: lady drives off drunk with a friend driving separately behind. First Lady gets in wreck, friend runs up, opens the door, and starts trying to yank her out of the car. Forgets to unlclick her friend’s seatbelt, and rag dolls her a bit before medics arrive. Driver suffers life changing spinal chord injury, not necessarily from her friend’s good intentioned attempts at rescue… But driver sues, probably everybody, including the (former) friend, probably unsuccessfully, accusing her of exacerbating her injuries.
That is a very rural area, she did the correct thing getting the ones out that could move on their own.
❤️ .
You’re a hero! The car last Monday in Eureka exploded when it hit the building, getting people out that can move on their own is common sense, especially being that it was feet from the cliff there.
Thank you!
I was only screaming to get my point across it was loud people were running up from behind where I parked believe me I was calm with the babies I felt the need to scream to get the dad out or caltrans guys out because they were far from me and the car was smoking I smelled gas it wasn’t just coolant.. id love to see how you’d react after watching something so horrible happen right infront of you then realizing there are literal babies hanging upside down and dad is bleeding everywhere upside down from his head and god knows where else. It was a split decision, I ended up having to hold the 10 year old sit until she was loaded up in the ambulance. I still think about what I could’ve done differently what I did wrong and if god forbid I end up in the same position I’d probably do the exact same thing I did that day as well.
Don’t worry. So many of us are full of admiration for your actions. Especially those of us who experienced something similar. We know there so many decisions to be made on the spur of the moment without the background to know.
Thank you forbwhat you did.
You can stop now. You weren’t there. Your advice is ludicrous. Shame on you.
And just because a wrecked vehicle emits “smoke,” it doesn’t mean it’s in fire or is in danger of bursting into flames. Most of the time, the “smoke” is actually steam as water from the radiator and windshield cleaner leaks onto the hot engine. Unless the smoke is dark gray or black and you see flames, there is no need to rush to extricate a severely injured victim. In doing so, injuries can be exacerbated and more pain can be caused. The best thing to do is make the victim as comfortable as possible, apply pressure to any bleeding, and observe spinal precautions. Keep calm because if you’re freaked out you scare the injured even more which can increase shock. Even if one hasn’t had training, learn the ABCs of an emergency: airway, breathing, and circulation. Remember, you’re there to help, not be a hero.
If it were my wreck, I’m glad you weren’t there. Because very obviously you would have just let me burn
Why did the car in Eureka explode last Monday when it crashed into the building?
So should they have just driven by and left people in a smoking car? No they did what they could to get them out and yeah it may have been taken as screaming but I guarantee you I would have been doing the same thing trying to make sure everyone was out and okay. It’s easy to judge when you are not the one that’s in the situation
Not what I said. It’s about doing your best to maintain composure when you stop to HELP. There might be other people trying to help who are competent also. Thanks for doing what you all did. things like this are hard, but always a learning experience for everyone else. It’s brave to lay it all out and describe what happened. Re read the part about the scream being useful or not. I hope there’s not another chance to test it for everyone.
On a rural road like that in the middle of nowhere there is nobody, getting everybody out that can move on their own was heroic.
She was worried about fire. If they could move, move on their own, they needed to get out. She’s a hero!
I was in a head on in Long Beach and I get the same feeling of adrenaline reading this. Well written article. Fortunately, as in the wreck I was in, everyone lived!!
Horrible as it is, to see people helping in such an accident is uplifting. May all involved recover soon.
I’ve seen numerous Caltrans vehicles recently coming at me head on that hug or touch the center line on turns on our rural highways
professional drivers should not be hugging the yellow line towards oncoming vehicles.
stay in your lane!
And there is no excuse for falling asleep while driving. Maybe the state needs to implement a 10 hour rule like the airlines. If driving is needed after that time, caltrans should then have a fresh driver meet the expired time driver at the point in the highway where his/her time has run out to drive.
Maybe fatigue, actually I suppose most likely, can cause someone to fall asleep at the wheel but there are diseases that can cause a person to fall asleep suddenly without warning. One second everything is normal, then suddenly you are waking up.
I had such an incident. Luckily for me I had just stopped and nothing happened but it scared me into pushing for a diagnosis and, again luckily, a fix.
Not that anything you said wasn’t a good plan for CalTrans or any other industry that requires long drives.
Now we have sleepy drivers to go along with the 10 guys standing around a hole, and only two of them are actually working. That’s not going to help the stereotype of CT personnel one bit.
Third generation Caltrans family–sure, there are some workers who aren’t the best like in any job and, as in this case, anyone can have a horrible day and make a life changing mistake. BUT, the reason you often see workers standing when you are traveling through a job site is because…you are driving on the road they are working on. They have to stop and let traffic through on a frequent basis.
Every day, Caltrans workers risk their lives as do the construction crews that contract with Caltrans that people think are Caltrans workers, but they are privately paid. They do that so people can travel to their jobs and schools.
When I was a kid, I listened to my dad tell stories of his crews heroically avoiding tree branches falling on the road during storms so they could keep the roads open. I can remember other equipment operators talking in awe of how my dad could maneuver cats up steep hillsides risking his life so that that he could take out the tops of slides to protect his crewmates and the traveling public. More than one Caltrans worker around here have been hit by folks not paying attention.
Yes, there are folks that are imperfect at any job–some are even outright disasters,–but as a person whose grandfather helped survey 101, whose father was a wizard with things on wheels and frequently worked 24 hours in a row during storms (illegal now I believe but not then) and whose husband was a project manager responsible from multimillion dollar projects, I’ve seen a lot of Caltrans and I’m proud of most of the folks who power through storms and bad publicity to keep doing a great job.
Kym, if you ever need a reference that your dad was a kick-ass equipment operator, just call on me! Getting the road back open happened fast back in your dad’s day. There was no screwing around waiting on engineers and studies. The job got done immediately, and got done right.
It is hard to blame Caltrans workers for what they can’t get done today. Most all of them are hard working conscientious people. It’s just that they can’t do a darn thing without jumping through endless bureaucratic hoops. Such is today’s world.
I loved your mom and dad, they were incredible people. You mom still is, it’s just that she has slowed down a bit. Janis liked seeing and chating with her again the other day.
Thank you, Ernie. I can’t think of my dad stumbling into the house half frozen after days of working on a partially open piece of equipment something like 20 hours on, 4 off trying to keep the road open and hear well meaning folks trash these workers. Heck, my own husband sometimes worked 16 hour days (many of them off the clock) to try and get projects done right. Yes there are bad workers but many are as hard working as my family.
The workers do not dispatch themselves to a job. They are sent by supervisors. If there is nothing for them to do at the moment you are passing by, it is not their fault.
Timbo, I completely agree with you about falling asleep at the wheel. You would think that he would realize he was extremely sleepy and would pull over for a rest and called dispatch to send another driver. His actions came very close to killing some people. Should Caltrans fire him for what he did?
I wouldn’t call a typical CalTrans worker a “professional” driver. They are just like the rest of us but are driving a work vehicle. A professional driver is someone that has received extra training, e.g., school bus driver, semi driver, CHP, etc. Maybe it’s time for them to have some additional training.
when people scream at rescuers , it doesn’t help, no matter how concerned you may be. but the immediate assistance is amazing focus.
It doesn’t seem like they were screaming at rescuers but more so speaking at a louder tone so other people around them could hear what they were saying
Boy I bet that was an interesting ride in the ambulance with the mom and the caltrans worker.. It always amazes me how unseriously people take the risk of driving every day. It’s probably the most dangerous thing we do on a daily basis Besides eat crappy food.
Horrible accident, incredible response. In our remote areas we have to be resourceful… even the services we have cannot always get there fast so call 911 first! And, if you can, take a first-aid/CPR course!
Thank you to these compassionate folks, well done.
Any word on the CalTrans worker’s condition?
Carry a fire extinguisher, folks. Thank you, saviors and responders.
Yup. Be prepared.
Fire extinguisher.
Seat belt cutter/window breaker. Hung on the steering column. (Self-extract or rescue).
Emergency Blanket.
First Aid kit.
Sterile ‘large’ dressings. (Pre-packaged military stuff.)
First aid scissors. (Blunt tip to cut off clothing.)
Gauze tape. (Narrow for bandages, and wide for wrapping broken bones.)
Anti-bleed dressings.
Tourniquet, lung plugs. (Plugs are used to stop holes in the lung cavity.)
Everyone should have first aid training. (This should be MANDATORY in High Schools.)
you forgot an emergency whistle such as an acme thunderer.. its a lot easier for additional rescuers to locate someone who is blowing a whistle vs shouting at the top of their lungs besides that shrill whistle actually carries farther thats why they are packed in survival kits
This story is so compelling. These two women, who just happened to be driving on the road when this head-on occurred, stepped up in amazing ways. Even Coleman’s children helped — and their vehicle had blankets, pillows and water! This is a shocking situation most of us will never face. Most of us would very likely be as emotional as Coleman was, and we might not be able to stay totally cool and collected, but she was THERE, doing what she felt was best to do. She did not shy away from getting involved. Kudos to her and Harbert. If there are awards for hero of the year, these two qualify, IMHO.
Am sorry about this diatribe.
Telling this story is I guess, part of the healing.. the memories stick with you after 50 years.
Prairie Creek Park… this was way before the bypass. 55 mph speed limit. Lots of traffic.
Young girl ran out in front of an Arcata Redwood pickup truck. I was driving right behind that truck. Heard a thump, tires skidding on the truck, and all I could see was a body flying through the air.
Slammed on the brakes and pulled over. The Arcata Redwood employee was calling for help on his company radio. (Older guy, I was actually worried about him having a heart attack at the time).
Was first one to the victim. Young girl, she was lying next to a tree. She had a chunk broke loose on her head… one leg was broken badly and the foot was pointed about 90 degrees from normal. She was completely unconscious, but still breathing. (Thank god.)
Cradled her head between my legs and put the portion of skull back in place, and held it there with a rag. Her family came up… again I was worried about them having a heart attack.
It seemed like a long time before the park service got there… (but I really couldn’t tell).
They had a first aid bag. Got out an inflatable cast and put her leg in it. Was still sitting there holding her head. Finally the Ambulance arrived from Arcata… you could hear it coming… the engine was detonating so bad you could hear it a long ways away. (Nasty air pollution stuff back in the 1970’s.)
Finally I let go of her, the Ambulance tended to her and loaded her up… but my memories of that time have become fuzzy, release of the stress, I was probably kind of in a bit of emotional shock. Highway Patrol was there, I gave a statement (but again, I really don’t remember that one).
Finally I drove back to Eureka. Don’t remember most of the drive. Just happened.
I had a pencil in my hand (I again, don’t remember how it got there). Crossed the Eureka Slough bridge and I realized that I had demolished the pencil… splinters, yellow shards, were all over the seat. Only thing left in my hand was the eraser holder.
Parked the car, got out… and then I broke down and set against the wall in the basement and cried. And still, after 50 years the tears are in my eyes after writing this story.
IMHO: Any rate… advice.
Be sure and take care of the responding kids… they may be really affected by this.
When something like this happens… ‘You do what you have to do’.
Thanks for this Bozo. As a retired firefighter first responder I saw too much of what is being said here.
I had the great advantage of being part of a great team. We worked together, mourned together and healed together.
After a few sleepless nights you can get past it by knowing that you did the best you could and you were there when someone needed you. It is very comforting.
Ernie, as a retired firefighter and first responder, I would like to say THANK YOU for everything you did during that time. I’m also happy that you were able to lay those events down and move on in life with no regrets.
Yes. It was a year before I could hass a place where there had been a serious accident with a death. It would be hard to imagine what child who can’t articulate would feel.
Negative commenter. Please post your Blackbelt Name.
If I ever respond to a serious accident… I will call out that name.
Have an affirmative answer… I will pack up my first aid, get back in my vehicle and continue my journey.
Thanks for your help in advance !
You made me cry also. Thank you for your help then and for telling it now.
THIS is love.
Amen!
All those wonderful people working together to help the injured made my day. That was indeed a very nasty crash, and I pray the outcome for all the injured will be positive. I only hope if that should ever happen to me or my family those wonderful people will once again appear. My God bless each and every one of you.
I was the one yelling for them to get my husband out of the fucking car btw…and the paramedic lied to me. They told me that was the passenger of the caltrans vehicle not the diver. I refused to get in…which is why they probably lied to me. And I’m extremely upset about it. My husband is going under major reconstructive surgeries because of this. I’m a stay at home mom and this whole incident is hitting our family so hard. We don’t know how we are going to live without my husband able to work.
It is horrible to be put in such a position by something beyond your control. Have you thought about a go fund me page? One of the things I appreciate on this site is Kym will post those and it allows me to help a neighbor that I didn’t know.
Caltrans will make you a millionaire
You will get through this. I’m so sorry this happened to you and your family. Count on your community call Cal Trans insurance now. and file temporary claim with Cal Trans now let them know more is coming
I would be glad to help out, and I know many many more in this community would do so as well, if we had a way to do it.
This is awful and not a freak accident. Falling asleep at the wheel is not a freak occurrence. I am so sorry for all involved even the one who fell asleep at the wheel. That person will have to be accountable for this accident
All of you are so quick to judge. Where were you? The women who were there did what they could to help. And yeah I would anticipate some level of screaming / yelling in a trauma situation.
Sorry.
Look it’s a crazy thing to go through. There are many ways for the average person to train up to help out, and just be ready for this stuff. Join your closest volunteer fire organization, take first aid, or higher levels of Basic Life Support training. Many people would be surprised at the number of these traumatic life changing incidents that occur in our communities. Every day, any time. It’s your neighbors, people just like you who go out and use the training to help folks out during their worst moments.
Please look at that stretch of road, it’s very dangerous there, 2 lanes only, curvy, near 100 degrees that day, it would have been dark soon, nobody was there to help except her, she was probably worried about fire or another car coming.
Are there any community supports set up for the family? A GoFund me? Any needs for housing to see the 10yr old, resources etc that people can help with while they recover?
Not any that have been sent to us, yet. If they send us that information, we will post it.
I’d call my insurance agent. They might have resources or recommendations.
There is a GoFundMe
I grew up crossing to Redding on the 299….. How the….#$@% does anyone fall asleep on the 299? Thank God those women were there…… Hope they did a UA on the CalTrans driver……
Omg!!
Danielle
How scary
I’m so sorry
Sending love & healing prayers
I love you 💗
such a great piece- it brought tears to my- prayers for everyone- 🙏🏻💜
Wow, incredible example of people helping strangers when they need it most, quite touching. Much respect and huge thanks to MaKayla and Jessica, and all the passersby who stopped and helped! Your love and compassion in action will surely be a significant source of strength for the family on their healing journey. My prayers for them all.
I hope all the children involved in yet another CalTrans Calamity get the $16 million that the agency shorted me off land value when claiming eminent domain on our 1852-established family ranch.
One can hope.
Good job, people.
Good luck, kids.
Caltrans SUVs are typically reserved for the Directors. The timing and heading eastbound hints that this was a CT employee from the Redding office, (very possibly high up on the org chart), returning home from the coast.
There is such a consistently toxic culture at CT, especially for management, that expects dedication above and beyond what is reasonable or legal. Employees should not be driving work vehicles after hours, and falling asleep at the wheel seems to suggest that they also awoke far too early/stayed up too late – probably to also reduce travel time on the clock. That toxic expectation of staff has to change from Ochoco all the way down, or more everyday families will suffer for it.
The recent mandates from the Governor that employees must return to office (even when meetings can reasonably be held virtually) mean more admin staff are going to be driving around in CT vehicles, outside of their normal or reasonable commute.
To the Family: Require written documentation for every single conversation you have with Caltrans and the State. You will (most likely) eventually speak with someone from Legal who will seem so understanding and on your side and willing to help you. That is intentional. Do not take them at face value and do not believe any promises that they will only make verbally. Demand recording every conversation. I know people will say not to talk to them without your own lawyer but let’s be real, that’s not always logistically or economically feasible. Just. Don’t. Trust. Them.