Photo courtesy Arcata Fire District

UPDATE, 6:29 p.m.: CHP Releases Info and IDs Drivers in this Afternoon’s Highway 101 Collision

# # #

Outpost readers, scanner traffic, and CHP Watch tell of grisly collision on Highway 101 near School Road in McKinleyville. Arcata Fire District tweeted the above photo and PIO Jenny Williamson tells us that the chief is at the scene. The Times-Standard is reporting that four people were injured in the accident, one seriously. 

We will update this post when we know more. —AG

###

UPDATE, 4:25 p.m.: From Arcata Fire:

At approximately 2:30 p.m. Arcata Fire District responded to a two vehicle accident on south bound Highway 101 south of School Road.

The first engine arrived on scene and reported two vehicles involved, with one off the roadway and another on the shoulder on fire. They also reported there were four injured patients with one pinned in the car.

The first engine on scene with a two-person crew was faced with a vehicle fire, four patients and extrication. Addition resources from Arcata Fire District as well as Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) and Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department (BLVFD) were requested. All Arcata Fire District resources were committed to this incident; therefore, HBF and BLVFD assisted with coverage in the Arcata Fire District.

“The ability to have automatic aid from neighboring agencies is a huge benefit in situations like this,” said Fire Chief Desmond Cowan. At the time of this press release, the condition of the four patients and the cause of the accident is unknown. California Highway Patrol is investigating