Bad weather and road conditions probably contributed to the following accidents occurring between December 23 and 25, all on Hwy. 101.

The first accident occurred at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23 on Hwy. 101 north of the Reynolds Highway. Jonglae Park, age 44, of Eureka, was driving a 2008 Toyota Camry southbound on Hwy. 101 at approximately 60-65 mph. Juan Escareno, age 29, of Covelo, was driving a 1999 Chevrolet pickup in the #2 northbound lane at approximately 55 mph, while Paul Durkin, age 60, of Willits was driving a 2004 Ford pickup northbound in the No. 1 lane at approximately 60 mph just behind Escareno.

According to a witness, and for unknown reasons at the time of the accident, Park crossed over into the northbound lanes. Her vehicle struck the left front of Escareno’s vehicle and then the front of Durkin’s vehicle.

Escareno sustained fractures to both ankles and all other injured parties sustained minor injuries.

Other parties involved included Gun Lee, age 31, of Eureka, a passenger in Park’s vehicle; Myra Escareno, age 25, Jesse Escareno, age 4, and D. Escareno, age 7, were all passengers in Escareno’s vehicle.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this collision. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department, Willits Fire Department, Willits Ambulance, and Cal star 4 assisted with the clearing of the collision scene.

The second accident occurred on Wednesday, December 24 at approximately 3:30 p.m. northbound on Hwy. 101 just south of Willford Lane near Phillipsville. Cynthia Heintzendelancy, age 39, of Phillipsville was driving her 1993 vehicle northbound in the #2 lane of Hwy. 101 just south of Willford Road at approximately 60-65 mph. Christopher McPherson, age 25, of Zenia was driving a 1999 vehicle in the #1 lane southbound on Hwy. 101 at approximately 65 mph. For an unknown reason, Heintzendelancy cross over into the southbound lanes. McPherson saw the vehicle approaching him and feared a head-on collision, so he turned his vehicle to the left traveling into the northbound lanes. Heintzendelancy continued in a northwest direction and struck a metal guardrail with wooden posts with the left front of her vehicle. Once McPherson avoided a collision with Heintzendelancy he turned his vehicle to the right, over corrected and left the roadway traveling up a sloping dirt embankment. His vehicle overturned and came to a rest on its passenger side. McPherson and his unidentified passengers remained in the vehicle until California State Parks assisted with their removal.

Heintzendelancy was transported to Jerold Phelp’s Community Hospital complaining of pain to her left leg. McPherson and his passengers appeared to be uninjured. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

California State Parks, Phillipsville Fire Department personnel and CDF assisted the CHP at the scene.

The third accident occurred on Thursday, December 25 at approximately 5:35 p.m. on Hwy. 101 south of Hwy. 1.

An unnamed 33-year-old female driver from Arcata was driving a 1999 Toyota Corolla northbound on Hwy. 101 on a wet and slushy road. As she tried to negotiate a right-hand curve she lost control of her vehicle and crossed into the southbound lanes of traffic. She was then hit on the left side by a 1999 GMC Suburban driven by Thomas Mello, age 39, of Ukiah. The impact between the two vehicles caused fatal injuries to the driver of the Toyota Corolla and major injuries to the driver of the Suburban.

This is a tragic reminder to please drive slowly in wet and ice weather conditions.