A logging truck driver was killed Wednesday after his loaded rig veered off State Route 128 near Navarro and crashed into a redwood tree, according to authorities. First responders arrived to find the driver beyond help and pronounced him dead at the scene while investigators began piecing together what went wrong on the rural highway.
Crash details
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the victim was a 69-year-old Anderson Valley man who had been headed west on SR 128 just before 2 PM when the crash occurred. The California Highway Patrol told the outlet that no other vehicles were involved, and the cause of the wreck remains under investigation.
What responders found
Incident logs from the CHP fatality feed describe early callers reporting a big rig vs a tree near the Navarro store. Entries show the logging truck had flipped and come to rest roughly 35 feet off the roadway. The timestamps line up with the early afternoon 911 calls and list Cal Fire and Caltrans among the agencies that responded, according to CHPFatal.com.
Route and safety context
State Route 128 links the Mendocino coast with Anderson Valley and inland wine country, threading through sections of narrow, winding highway that routinely carry heavy timber traffic. Those tight curves and steep shoulders can make recovering large vehicles especially difficult when crashes happen near the redwoods that line much of the corridor, according to an overview of the route on California State Route 128.
Investigation ongoing
The CHP has not released the driver’s name and says it is still investigating why the truck left the roadway, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Dispatch notes compiled on the CHP fatality feed also show Cal Fire and Caltrans remained at the scene as crews worked to recover the truck and clear the area, CHPFatal.com noted. Authorities have not indicated whether any charges or citations will be issued as the investigation continues.
