Mudslides threaten roads in Santa Cruz Mountains

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KGO) -- The Santa Cruz Mountains were hit hard by rain Thursday causing big problems on the roads.

RELATED: Storm makes for messy mountain commute along Highway 17

Bear Creek Road at Ralston Ridge will be closed overnight. Locals say a mudslide has been in the making for a while.

"Concrete barrier to try to keep mud back and tonight it failed," said David Main, who got his truck stuck in the mud. "And a big part of the hillside came down, washed really slippery mud onto the roadside."

When we found Main, he'd been waiting almost an hour for a tow truck. "Damage to my ego, but not to my truck," he said.

The road closure had traffic backed up on Bear Creek Road in both directions, leaving drivers to decide their next move.

Joy Hagen ditched her car on the shoulder and walked home. "Not the first time," she said. "Won't be the last. I live right here. Slide's been coming down a little bit more all day so I'm not surprised they're not letting us pass anymore."

Drivers couldn't know what was around each bend.

Flooding was another hazard in the hills. We found standing water at Big Basin Way and China Grade.

The Santa Cruz Mountains saw steady rain for hours, soaking Highway 17 at the peak of the evening commute, on top of everything else.

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