Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Breaking Local News: landslide on 101 stops traffic both ways!


Update below (as of 2:48 p.m.)
I just got a call from my son who drives a big rig for Del Recca Beverages in Eureka. He was on his way down to Southern Humboldt to make deliveries when a mountain slide happened right before his eyes! A tree fell first, but then more of the mountain collapsed (he called us on his cell at 9:21 a.m. after calling the CHP first) and within minutes the road was impassable. (CHP reports say the slide happened at 9:22 a.m.)
My son, Nate, was able to stop his truck in plenty of time. He’s the first in what is rapidly becoming a long line of vehicles that are stuck! The slide happened just north of Redway. Nate reported that the road is splitting open (Go to KMUD link provided below for photos) and the earth is still moving. He’s pretty uncomfortable being stuck right now, but is perfectly safe.
The question now is “How are all those vehicles – on both sides of the slide – going to turn around? stay tuned, as Nate gives me updates. Right now, he said there’s lots of CHP on the scene.
  First reports are saying the slide happened a quarter mile north of the Dean Creek exit. 12-15 feet deep. via Redheaded Blackbelt Go here for more updates and photos.
More info on KMUD website:
UPDATE From CalTrans update
ROUTE 101 CLOSED NORTH OF GARBERVILLE DUE TO MUDSLIDE
Eureka  – Caltrans has announced that Route 101 in Southern Humboldt County
is  closed  due  to  a  large mudslide approximately one mile north of Dean
Creek.  Caltrans crews are currently onsite and assessing the situation.
No estimated time of opening is currently available.  Caltrans will issue
another update by 2:00 PM today.
Motorists are advised to use an alternate route.  For the most current road
information   on   all   State   highways,   please   call   1-800-427-7623
(1-800-GAS-ROAD) or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/.
As of: 10:22 AM AND NB IS CLOSED TAKING PEOPLE OFF NB AT DEAN CRK
10:22AM
DOT HAS HARD CLOSURE SB 101 / DIVERTING AT SDALE
10:17AM
PER CO RDS DYERVILLE & ALDPT RDS CANT HANDLE LG RIGS, INCLUDING SCHOOL BUSES
10:13AM
1039 SCHOOL DIST
10:01AM
1039 CO RDS, THEY HAVE SOME WORKERS ENRT TO ATT TO PLOW
California Highway Patrol says highway may be closed for two weeks.
2:48 p.m. update:
Nate was able to turn his truck around and go back to the distribution plant in Eureka. He called to let his mother and I know everything was okay. He also told us this, “I forgot my clipboard this morning and had to turn around (after just going a block) and went back to get it. That’s never happened before. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!”
Me too.

12 comments:

Tom Sebourn said...

Thanks for the info. Dave. Sounds like this is going to be closed for a while.

Anonymous said...

What time did your son call, Dave? I'm just curious what time the slide happened--how many hours after the rain finally stopped!

ImBlogCrazy said...

My son called at 9:21 a.m. this morning.

According to the CHP the slide happened at 9:22 a.m.

Hope this helps.

skippy said...

Dave, Kym Kemp is doing a very good job (as usual) reporting the updates and photos of this at her
Redheaded Blackbelt site here.

Glad yur son is OK. peace... skips

ImBlogCrazy said...

Thanks Skips!

Kym is "The Blog" when it comes to local news like this. She's the best without a doubt.

I put her in my favorite blog links nearly 3 years ago.

Peace to you too,
Dave

Anonymous said...

I was traveling up from the Bay Area last July and was the first car stopped by a car hitting a pole and knocking it down in front of my car. It's traumatic. Hope your son takes some deep breaths and gets centered. Near misses are affecting!
We lucked out -- only stopped for three hours before it was all cleared. TWO WEEKS!! Holy Mother.

ImBlogCrazy said...

I'm still taking deep breaths Anonymous!

Thanks for sharing, and good advise.

Anonymous said...

Well at least we know first hand
that no one is underneath that thing. Thanks!

skippy said...

That was one lucky clipboard.

Anonymous said...

Dave, Glad your son was on the same side of the slide as home. All mine were home too. Life feels good.

Thanks for the info and the kind words.

Anonymous said...

heading north in July on 101....do you have any updates on conditions of the Slide at this point? Thank you for you blog.

ImBlogCrazy said...

The road was clear both ways a week later anonymous.

Enjoy your trip in July.

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