The California Highway Patrol is investigation two fatal accidents over the weekend, including the death of a man who was struck Saturday night on Redway Drive after apparently walking in front of a Peterbilt tank truck — the
second Southern Humboldt pedestrian death in one week.
On Sunday evening, the 83-year-old female driver of a Toyota Camry died after being ejected from the car when it suddenly veered off U.S. Highway 101 in northern Mendocino County and down an embankment before hitting a culvert pipe that sent the vehicle airborne near Ryan Creed Road.
Neither of the victims has been identified. The woman in the Camry was from Phoenix, Arizona. The pedestrian was a 50-year-old Redway resident who became the second such fatality this week. On Feb. 25, 32-year-old Travis Rothwell was killed after being hit by a car as he ran across U.S. Highway 101 near the Garberville exit.
Read the full CHP press release on the March 4 incident below:
On March 4, 2017, at approximately 2017 hours, a 1994 Peterbilt tank truck driven by Leroy Thomas was traveling southbound on Redwood Drive, just north of Redway Drive. A pedestrian was walking northbound on Redwood Drive, within the northbound lane for vehicle travel. It was dark, rainy and the roadway was wet. For reasons still under investigation, the pedestrian continued walking in the roadway and the front of the Peterbilt collided with him. The pedestrian was thrown approximately 60 feet and came to rest on the west shoulder of Redwood Drive. The pedestrian sustained major injuries as a result of the collision. Redway Volunteer Fire Department, City Ambulance of Eureka and Humboldt County Sheriffs Deputies assisted CHP with medical aid and traffic control. The pedestrian was immediately transported to Jerold Phelps Community Hospital in Garberville by City Ambulance. He was later taken to Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna. The driver of the Peterbilt was uninjured and evaluated for DUI, which did not appear to be a factor. The pedestrian succumbed to his injuries on March 5, 2017, at 0750 hours. Humboldt County Coroner case number 201701057.
The pedestrian's name is being withheld, pending next of kin notification by the Humboldt County Coroner. This incident remains under investigation by the Garberville CHP office.
Read the full CHP press release on the March 5 incident below:
On March 5, 2017, at approximately 1915 hours, a 2003 Toyota Camry was traveling northbound on US-101, just north of Ryan Creek Road, at a slow rate of speed. For reasons still under investigation, the driver suddenly veered towards the west and off of US-101, traveling down a steep embankment west of the roadway. The Toyota collided with a culvert pipe on the west embankment, launching the vehicle into the air. The driver appears to not have been wearing a seatbelt, and became ejected from the Toyota during the impact. The Toyota overturned on top of the driver, and then continued down the embankment. The driver was immediately given life saving medical efforts by several citizens who witnessed the collision, but to no avail. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene at 1938 hours, by Willits Ambulance EMS personnel.
Caltrans assisted with traffic control during the vehicle recovery, along with the Little Lake Fire Department, and Mendocino County Sheriff Deputies. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor at this time. The driver's name is being withheld, pending next of kin notification by the Mendocino County Coroner. This incident remains under investigation by the Garberville CHP office.
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