Just after noon on Tuesday, August 26th, the California Highway Patrol reported that a ‘Frito Lay’ boxtruck traveling on U.S. Hwy. 199 had left the roadway between Hiouchi and Gasquet.
The driver, identified by the California Highway Patrol as 57 year old David Doering of Crescent City, escaped with minor injuries after self extricating himself from the vehicle before authorities arrived on scene after the truck plummeted over 150ft. down the rocky embankment to the Smith River.
Recovering the box truck up the steep granite boulder embankment caused considerable delays along U.S. Hwy. 199 Wednesday with the road finally clearing to two way traffic at approximately 4:30pm Wednesday afternoon.
Caltrans has advised that travelers along U.S. Hwy. 199 between Hiouchi and Gasquet should be prepared for up to one-hour delays on Thursday, August 28, from 10:00am to 2:00pm as permitees will be on scene conducting post-collision investigations are conducted, and Caltrans performs emergency tree work nearby.
