California Highway Patrol release: 

On January 21, 2024, at approximately 2237 hours, CHP Humboldt Communications Center (HCC) received a report of a Toyota truck traveling wrong-way, northbound in the southbound lanes of US 101. At approximately 2243 hours, HCC received a report of a head-on traffic crash in the southbound lanes of US 101 at Metropolitan Road. After the crash, both vehicles were disabled and became fully engulfed in flames.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and located a 2015 Toyota Tacoma and a 2010 Mercedes Benz C300 blocking the lanes. An unidentified driver was located inside the Toyota whom was determined by medical personnel on scene to be deceased. An unidentified driver and an unidentified passenger were located inside the Mercedes Benz whom were determined by medical personnel on scene to be deceased.

At this time, it is unknown exactly where the the wrong-way Toyota entered US 101. It is also unknown at this time if drugs and/or alcohol contributed to the cause of this crash.

The CHP Humboldt Area office is continuing its investigation and asks anyone who may have additional information to contact the California Highway Patrol at 707-822-5981.