(UPDATED) Traffic Slow on Northbound 101 Through Arcata After Vehicle Crashes Into Tree
UPDATE, 5:22 p.m.: From the California Highway Patrol, who says that the driver’s injuries turned out to be “major” ones:
On the afternoon of Friday, December 18, one occupant sustains major injuries after his vehicle left the roadway and collided into a tree.
On December 18, 2015, at approximately 1547 hours, 53 year old Ricky John Damassa of Arcata, was driving a 2015 Chrysler 200 northbound on US-101, north of St. Louis. For reasons still under investigation Mr. Damassa lost control of the Chrysler causing it to travel off the roadway and collide into a tree. Emergency personnel responded to the scene of the incident. Mr. Damassa was transported by ground ambulance to Mad River Community Hospital with major injuries.
DUI is being investigated as a possible factor in the collision. The CHP Humboldt Area office is investigating this traffic collision.
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UPDATE, 4:20 p.m.: A CHP officer on-scene tells the Outpost’s John Ferrara that the driver in this crash suffered only minor injuries, and that drugs and alcohol are considered a factor in this collision. Audio below.
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Photos: John Ross Ferrara.
UPDATE, 4:04 p.m.: The vehicle has been removed from and the traffic slowdown “is mostly rubbernecking at this point,” according to the Outpost’s John Ferrara, on scene.
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A car traveling northbound on Highway 101 through Arcata slammed into a tree a few minutes ago, prompting a bit of a traffic jam.
An ambulance is responding, but there is no word yet if anyone was injured. The car has been moved to the side of the road.
Follow updates from CHP dispatch below.
See: Common CHP Codes and Shorthand