Multi-Vehicle Collision Backs Up Traffic on Highway 101 Near King Salmon
Multiple vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction collision on southbound U.S. Highway 101 near mile marker 72.8, south of Eureka near the King Salmon exit, around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the California Highway Patrol Traffic Incident Information Page.
Initial reports indicate that a white Subaru WRX and a blue Honda sedan were involved in the original crash, which led to additional vehicles being rear-ended as traffic slowed in the area. Some drivers reported that construction activity nearby may have contributed to the collision.
Emergency medical personnel and fire crews responded to the scene, and at least one ambulance was dispatched. Early reports suggested no major injuries. Traffic quickly backed up through the Humboldt Hill area, and officers temporarily diverted vehicles into the number two lane to relieve congestion.
Tow trucks were requested for the involved vehicles, and crews are working to clear the scene. Traffic delays continue while responders assist motorists. Heavy congestion persists from Spruce Point to just north of the Tompkins Hill Road exit.
Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.
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I drove through there, and apparently, these collisions occurred right behind me. And I tell you what caused it all:
Black and White Fever.
Yes there was a lane closure in the Number Two lane; it appeared to me that SJL Construction was wrapping up some kind of road maintenance or construction project. Where the lane closure began, a Highway Patrol vehicle was parked at the side like they do to encourage people to slow down to the required 55 mph. However, there’s always some asshole drivers who see the flashing cop lights and overreact. They slam on the brakes when just decreasing their speed is all that’s needed. That CHP officer isn’t going to pull anyone over unless they are way past speeding… like 75 or more as they pass the patrol car.
When I went through the area, traffic was backing up, but moving at the King Salmon exit. Speeds were slowed to about 30-35 mph. Then directly ahead of me as I was preparing to merge into the left lane, some moron activated their emergency flashers. Vehicles began slamming on their brakes in response and I nearly rear ended a work van ahead of me. If the pavement had been wet, I’d have definitely hit the van. I had to swerve into the right lane to avoid him and behind me, another idiot who was attempting to pass everyone who had merged for the lane closure, saw the CHP lights and THEY slammed on the brakes. The big rig coming behind that car nearly hit them. So it’s no surprise that there was a chain reaction crash behind me. All because of stupid drivers who can’t slow down to prepare for and respect a Cone Zone.
So, what you are saying is you were following a work van too closely, had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid rear ending the work van, and your swerving and squealing tires caused a chain reaction of accidents behind you?
Definitely describing that you were going too fast for the conditions and following at an unsafe distance.
No. That’s not what I’m saying so quit trying to put words in there that I didn’t type.
As I said, we were slowed down to 30-35 mph and I was following at a safe distance in accordance with that speed. IF it had been raining, it’s likely I would have slid into the back of the van. Then too one has to take into account that the van didn’t brake before slowing significantly… not everyone is quick to stomp on the brakes. My move back into the Number Two lane was a defensive move, mostly in anticipation of the vehicle behind me not braking in time.
You seem to need to return to Remedial Drivers Ed too.
Ah, yes, the classic ‘I was totally following at a safe distance, I just would’ve hit the guy in front of me if it had rained’ defense. Ma’am, that’s not a safety buffer — that’s wishful thinking on four bald tires.
And this part’s gold: the van ‘didn’t brake before slowing down significantly.’ You do realize that’s what engines and transmissions do, right? It’s called coasting. You’re not supposed to tailgate until someone’s brake lights tell you to notice physics.
Also, that CHP theory — what insider intel are we talking about here? Did the officer text you mid-patrol to confirm he had no intention of enforcing the speed limit? Because I’ve seen plenty of CHP units pull over drivers for not moving over, which is the law, by the way. Another reason to tap those flashers — to warn people who don’t read the DMV handbook that the lane ahead is full of flashing lights and common sense.
And calling that last-second lane change a ‘defensive move’ is like saying, ‘I didn’t crash, therefore I’m an excellent driver.’ No, you didn’t crash this time. Congratulations — you survived your own reaction time.
Honestly, the more you explain, the more it sounds like you caused your own near-miss and then blamed the one person actually warning others. But sure, everyone else needs remedial Driver’s Ed. Maybe enroll together — you can bring the syllabus on clairvoyance.
Oh, FFS. I was THERE. You weren’t. So quit man ‘splanin’ especially when you can’t even do that right.
The fact remains that traffic was backed up, people were freaked out by the cop’s blinking lights, and assholes weren’t merging like they should, when they should. People weren’t paying attention and trying to go faster than those of us who were paying attention and trying to drive safely.
And finally… have YOU ever tried to maintain a safe distance under the described circumstances? It’s impossible. Every time you get a bit of distance between your vehicle and the one ahead, some dufuss cuts in front of you and BOOM! There goes your safe distance.
[edit]
Actually, I was in front of you — I’m the ‘moron’ who had the audacity to turn on his emergency flashers to warn everyone of the hazard ahead. Shocking, I know — someone thinking beyond their own bumper.
And yes, I have been maintaining a safe distance. Crazy concept, right? There are two ways to do it — take your foot off the gas or, brace yourself, touch the brake pedal. It’s almost like magic. Even you could manage it if you put down your phone and the attitude for five seconds.
Oh, and while we’re chatting — do you kiss your grandson with that mouth, or does he just flinch on instinct by now? I’ve noticed every time someone doesn’t meet your royal traffic standards, they instantly become an ‘asshole.’ At this point, you might want to start a fan club.
You sound fun to be around at parties.
I do believe that calls for a “mic drop.” Drop the mic and take a bow, you earned that one!
Ah yes, the true criminal mastermind — the driver who dared to use their emergency flashers correctly. Lock them up before they warn anyone else about a hazard on the road! Imagine the chaos if people actually followed the California Vehicle Code instead of their gut instinct from a Facebook comment section.
Also, can we talk about the psychic powers at play here? How exactly did she know how the accident happened if it all went down after she’d already passed? That’s not eyewitness testimony — that’s clairvoyance with a steering wheel. Maybe she should quit driving and start a hotline.
And while we’re on the topic of her supernatural insight — how does she know the CHP officer wasn’t going to pull anyone over who was “barely speeding”? Did he send her a teletype as she cruised by? I’ve watched CHP units pull out mid-monitoring to stop drivers who failed to move over, which, by the way, is the law. Yet another good reason to hit those flashers.
And let’s address this little gem: “I nearly rear-ended the van in front of me.” There’s no such thing as nearly rear-ending someone unless you were tailgating and not paying attention. If you’re so close you have to swerve to avoid impact, that’s on you, not the guy trying to keep traffic alive. Seems like she’s the one breaking the law — though, naturally, she’s exempt, since she can apparently see accidents behind her while being totally blind to the slowing van in front of her.
Newsflash: those blinkie things on your dashboard aren’t decorative. §25251.5 literally says they’re for warning other motorists of hazards. You know, like the construction zone, accident, or the parade of drivers who think slamming the brakes counts as “slowing down,” especially when you were already speeding, and somehow think that qualifies as defensive driving.
And around here in King Salmon, we take that a step further — we flash high beams with the hazards on blind curves. It’s a signal that says, “Hey, maybe don’t launch into this corner at 65 mph, there’s a pedestrian, cyclist, or confused tourist playing Frogger up ahead.” It’s called courtesy. Some of us still practice it.
So if you almost rear-ended a van because someone warned you about a hazard, that’s not their fault — that’s natural selection trying to send a message. Next time, take a deep breath, unclench the steering wheel, and remember: hazard lights are for safety, not for triggering panic attacks. Highway Safety 101, sweetheart.
Sight stopping distance
Stormy night, sudden closure of the highway at peak commuting time, the beginning of early darkness, on a dangerous curve in the road. Not smart to have construction happen at that time of night. Much later or much earlier. What were they thinking? Perhaps the officer should have been much farther back from the lane closer. That is a high traffic area for after work commute, should have also been some warning about the lane closure.
I agree. Something went wrong… No CalTrans for traffic control in sight and yes, come to think about it, there wasn’t the hundreds of signs advising of lane control ahead. Just one or two. And yeah… the CHP needs to quit putting those cars at the beginning of a lane control area. They should put them at the END and start writing tickets for the idiots who blow through a work site at highway speeds.
So let me get this straight — your solution to improving highway safety is to move the CHP farther down the road so the speeding drivers don’t have to see them until they’re already in the construction zone? That’s not traffic control, that’s a trap.
The whole point of the patrol car being at the start of the closure is to slow traffic before it plows into the guys holding shovels and cones. If you don’t see the flashing lights, the illuminated arrow board, the cones, and the workers, maybe the problem isn’t CalTrans — maybe it’s tunnel vision.
And for the record, the Vehicle Code doesn’t require ‘hundreds of signs.’ It requires drivers to pay attention to the ones that exist. We’re not building a theme park; it’s a highway.
Instead of blaming the CHP for being visible, maybe thank them for keeping construction workers from becoming hood ornaments. They’re parked there to prevent exactly the kind of crash we just saw — caused by people who treat brake lights and hazard flashers like jump scares.
Signs have been posted for at least a month about the construction before it started .
For the NORTHBOUND 101 inside the Eureka city limits. Not for the southbound lanes near Fields Landing.
Sheesh.
I was wondering when this weeks speeder/tailgater game of “Hey let’s ruin our own very expensive vehicles by speeding and tailgating” was going to start. They can’t go one week without destroying their own vehicles. Weird game where u ruin ur own stuff – I don’t get it.
IMHO:
70+ mph (the ‘effective’ speed limit) >>>
Dark and ‘Rush Hour’ >>>
CHP/Construction >>>
35 mph >>>
Rear end collision.
As far as safety, the construction zone should close at 4pm.
When it is still (sort of) light… and also avoid rush hour.
You mean ” Not paying attention to construction signs on highway may have led to secondary collisions ” !!!