Image from a CHP traffic camera on Ridgewood Summit south of Willits.

UPDATE: Mendocino Sheriff’s Office Provides Update on Highway 101 Shooting

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A freeway incident has left at least one man dead and temporarily closed both southbound lanes on Ridgewood Grade south of Willits, according to the California Highway Patrol dispatch center.

The incident was initially reported at 4:32 p.m. as a traffic collision at mile marker 37, but several media outlets have since noted that emergency responders identified patients as gunshot victims over the scanner.

As of this posting, however, the most recent information out of the CHP Ukiah office continues to refer to the incident as a traffic collision. 

The CHP Ukiah Office notes on Facebook, “The southbound lane[s] will be closed temporarily to accommodate emergency personnel … . We are working to reopen the highway as soon as possible. Please find another route and avoid the area.”

We will update as more information becomes available.