The California Highway Patrol tells us they cited driver, Christopher Cortez of Lodi, for ignoring the many warning signs on this restricted roadway.
@Caltrans video from Route 175 near Hopland yesterday. Chronic problem on this stretch of road. Driver okay. Truck still below. Asking why and how. #abc7now pic.twitter.com/1OoKvQxeEy
— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) October 12, 2018
"He stated that he saw a few of them," according to CHP Sgt. Robert Powers. "He said he would try to work his luck and see what he could do with it."
His answer still lies on its side, 100 feet down the ravine, and will force a future closure of at least one day to retrieve it. A construction crew recorded the video. They say they warned the driver, but he continued. Caltrans knows the drill.
"The tractors take a different line than the trailers," said Jim Shupe with Caltrans. "His trailer got in the berm and the trailer pulled him over."
Certainly plenty of warnings for long trucks along Rt.175#abc7now pic.twitter.com/eMQ0HFgSPG
— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) October 12, 2018
Had this been a one-time event, it might be easier to dismiss. Locals who saw the video today know better.
"I saw it yesterday. Said, 'There goes another one,'" said one woman in her car.
There was a similar, less severe incident on Oct. 2. Last January, a wine truck carrying hundreds of bottles failed to make the turn, closing the same Hopland Grade for two days.
Another look at the turn on Route 175 where more than one semi truck has plummeted into a ravine. #abc7now @caltrans blames truckers not reading Warning signs on this restricted road. pic.twitter.com/kf3jqoIAGy
— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) October 12, 2018
Despite road construction that has narrowed this two-lane road to one at the difficult turn, Caltrans and the CHP say Route 175 would still be restricted.
"Will you see this again?" we asked Powers.
He answered, "100 percent. We could put a sign and a video of the truck on the loop, and it would happen again."
Truckers beware.
