Highway 1 closed for 4 hours after overturned truck accident (updated 12:45 p.m.)
UPDATED 12:45 p.m. 12/12/2024 – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said State Route 1 20 miles north of Fort Bragg was reopened after four hours following the rollover of a heavy construction truck that dumped a load of sand and pinned the driver in the vehicle. The highway was closed from about 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The driver was extracted after what rescue workers called a very difficult extraction due to how the truck rolled. He was taken by ambulance to an out-of-town hospital. Neither the CHP nor local rescue workers know more about his condition.
MENDOCINO CO., 12/11/24 – A truck carrying sand from Fort Bragg to Westport overturned on State Route 1 at around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, covering the highway with sand and closing the road between Pacific Star Winery and Newport Ranch Inn, about 12 miles north of the city of Fort Bragg.
The driver was still trapped inside the Smile Trucking Company dump truck two hours later, with the highway still closed. The driver had been headed north just south of Pacific Star Winery when it overturned and dumped its load. About two dozen emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, ambulances and tow trucks gathered, filling the road. Men and women worked feverishly on extracting the driver. Caltrans workers and contractor crews arrived with heavy equipment and also directed traffic. There were volunteer firefighters all over the overturned truck, using jacks and other tools after others had made sure the overturned vehicle would not slide or leak. A Reach helicopter arrived about 5:45 p.m. Unfortunately by then, heavy rain began, and the air was thick with fog. The helicopter had to abort due to low visibility.
About an hour into the scene, construction crews got all the blocked cars to back up and return to Fort Bragg. From then on, a scenic vista lot about a half mile from the scene was utilized for a turnaround. One man was desperate to get to his house, located just beyond the crash, but he was persuaded it would be impossible. And indeed, as of 6:50 p.m., the highway was still closed. This story will be updated when more information is available.
Smile Trucking is one of many contractors working on repairing a historic landslide threatening State Route 1 about five miles north of the wreck.
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