Scanner traffic and the California Highway Patrol Traffic Incident Information indicate a head-on traffic collision on Highway 101 just south of the Ridgewood Grade has resulted in a fatality and the closure of Highway 101 in both directions.
Initial reports from the scene indicated a red truck collided head-on with a white two-door sedan
The following statement was issued by the CHP regarding the closure:
FATAL TRAFFIC COLLISION *
US101 NEAR MM 42.1
CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS DUE TO A TRAFFIC COLLISION
UNKNOWN ESTIMATED TIME OF OPENING
PLEASE USE ALTERNATE ROUTES OF TRAVEL
UPDATE 1:26 p.m.: A second traffic collision has occurred near the initial head-on collision. Scanner traffic indicates this second traffic collision occured on the Highway 101 north of the initial collision involving one vehicle off the roadway.
Also, as per and update from the Willits Police Department, “One-way traffic control is back in place for Highway 101 north & southbound lanes. Please drive safe and allow for extra time in your travels as heavy traffic is still in the area.”
Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.
This type of story always breaks my heart for both sides. On a Sunday they are likely coming or going home from the lake or camping. No matter who is at fault everyone has a very bad day. I know I sometimes drive too fast and need to slow down. I will take my own advice to heart as I drive this week.
The white car was actually going to take care of his uncle, like he did every Sunday. Why would you assume drinking or speeding!
I was there, Karla before the first responders arrived. I am so sorry for your loss.
I love you Beautiful and I’m sending love and prayers ??
Love you Karla. My prayers are with you and the family.
Praying for the victims of this horrific accident. Condolences, truly. Please pray before you get on the highway. Ask God to protect you and others on the road. The highway is a dangerous place.
People who go into someone else’s lane and kill people and their families should be charged with their death. I don’t care if they are playing with their radio, their phone, their dog, looking for something, getting your vape, fell asleep, or are lighting a cigarette. You have a duty to keep your vehicle in your own lane. A person’s actions ending in other people’s deaths does not equal to accidental. Most of these are preventable if people would drive like their life and the lives of families on the road with them depended on it and they do. Rant over!
Truth be told that grade will be a cause of horrific accidents not only at fault of the people driving it but also because of the fact it was never done right to begin with over 20 years ago there are places in that road that pitches in the wrong direction and have the capability of tossing any car in the wrong lane and we should maybe be tossing the ball back to caltrans or whomever it was that won the bid to totally screw it up for years to come
Keep your rant to yourself, this is my son and for unknown reason we will never know.