A head-on collision between a big rig and a motorhome south of Hopland has left at least one person dead and Highway 101 littered with debris blocking the southbound lane.
The traffic collision occurred just south of Frog Woman Rock near mile marker 4.35.
Traffic is backed up at least a mile and first responders are working to clear the roadway.
The big rig is down the embankment in the dry riverbed next to the Russian River. Environmental Health has been requested to the scene to inspect the riverbed where the semi-truck came to rest.
Pedestrians are outside of their vehicles, watching the incident. The roadway will require clearing before the roadway can be opened.
Commuters looking to avoid the traffic snarl can take Mountain House Road which will lead you through the hills west of the incident and drop you near Cloverdale.
Agencies represented at scene include Hopland Fire, Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, California Highway Patrol, and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
UPDATE 8:18 a.m.: Both directions of Highway 101 are now closed as a result of the accident, according to California Highway Patrol. As per the CHP, “ BOTH DIRECTIONS OF HWY 101 CLOSED MENDOCINO COUNTY. NB 101 CLOSED AT 101 MM53.50 ( NEAR CLOVERDALE) IN SONOMA COUNTY AND SB CLOSED AT 101/175 IN MENDOCINO COUNTY (NEAR HOPLAND).”
UPDATE 8:23 a.m.:Caltrans spokesperson Myles Cochrane tells us, “According to dispatch, the estimated time of reopening is 10:30 a.m.
UPDATE 9:07 a.m.: Hopland Fire Chief Mitch Franklin has told us that northbound traffic is starting to move.
UPDATE 9:53 a.m.: According to an update on the Caltrans District 1 Facebook page, northbound and southbound traffic is expected to be moving “within the hour.”
UPDATE 10:39 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol Traffic Incident information page is reporting that both the north and southbound lanes have reopened.
Caltrans QuickMap shows that traffic is still creeping through the area.
UPDATE 10:52 a.m.: A dispatcher at Ukiah’s California Highway Patrol office clarified that as of 10:52 a.m., there is currently one-way controlled traffic, allowing both north and southbound traffic to move one at a time. The CHP Incident Information page indicates that the northbound lane will be shutdown between 5-6 hours.
Do they have a estimated time of reopening? Just wondering if I should call it a day or wait?
UPDATE 8:23 a.m.:Caltrans spokesperson Myles Cochrane tells us, “According to dispatch, the estimated time of reopening is 10:30 a.m.
Is 10:30 still an accurate estimate for northbound traffic stopped at the 128?
So Sad, the Signs are very clear on that section of the road about going 45MPH and it really means it. A few years ago I was swimming in the river there and found a whole bunch of ID computer cords, a guitar … Turned out a couple of college students hit the corner going to fast and flew off the cliff into the river. They landed on the only sand bar in that part of the river or they would have been in 20 feet of water. THat is the worst corner on the road.