CHP Press Release:

A 60 year old female motorist was rescued today off SR-299, west of Willow Creek, after she drove her vehicle down a steep embankment the day prior, leaving her stranded and unable to call for help.

In the late morning of Monday, May 5th, 60 year old Paula Whitten of Salyer was driving her Chrysler PT Cruiser westbound on SR-299 near mile marker 31 when, for reasons she was unable to explain, her vehicle drove off the south roadway edge and down a steep 60 foot embankment where her vehicle came to rest.  Whitten did not sustain any injuries, but she was unable to climb up the embankment, leaving her stranded.

On Tuesday, May 6, at approximately 12:00 p.m., Apex Fencing from the Redding area was removing construction signs when they heard a voice calling for help from down the embankment.  The construction crew looked over the embankment and observed the crashed PT Cruiser, but they were unable to see any victims from their location.  A 911 call from a construction crew worker initiated a response from the CHP and the Willow Creek Volunteer Fire Department.  Fire personnel located Whitten and brought her up to the roadside.  Although she was uninjured, Whitten was transported to Mad River Hospital in Arcata as a precaution. 

There was no evidence of a traffic collision visible from the roadway.  Thanks to Apex Fencing for locating Whitten and initiating emergency response, Whitten was rescued uninjured. 

The CHP Humboldt Area is investigating this traffic collision.