Multiple crashes along Highway 17 during storm

It was a busy day for California Highway Patrol on Highway 17 with slick roads and poor visibility leading to crashes and spinouts on Tuesday.

Overhead signs warned of an accident just past Summit Road with the right lane blocked at one point during the evening.

“(Driver) was going through the curve up here and his truck just went off the road,” said Kyle Kittlitz, an officer with the CHP.

This particular crash was one of at least five different incidents CHP responded to, which is fairly common during storms like this. The driver was lucky enough not to slide all the way down the embankment and was able to climb out mostly unhurt.

“Roads are really wet and slippery and there’s a lot of rain and it’s doing that thing where it hits the median and goes sideways, so there’s just a puff of water that you drive through,” said Breanna Bolton, a Santa Cruz resident who drove through Highway 17 on Tuesday night.

“17 was lots of fun,” said Jonathan Gowing, a Scotts Valley resident. “I commute every day, and I came over the summit and as you go over the summit, you get through that fog layer and it’s raining and foggy. You can barely see.”

But it is also dangerous for crews responding to these wrecks working on the side of the road in dark, wet conditions with cars flying by.

“There’s a lot of curves up here on 17 as well, so it gets a little harder to navigate at night even when it’s dry,” said Kittlitz.

And even experienced Highway 17 drivers make sure to practice safety on the dangerous stretch of road.

“I drive very steadily, very carefully. I leave a lot of braking distance, that’s the most important thing when you’re driving 17,” said Gowing.

The CHP is also reminding drivers to check Caltrans’ website for updates on road conditions before heading out.