Driver injured after crane crashes off of Highway 101 into E. Alisal Street culvert
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) - One person is recovering in the hospital after careening off the highway in Salinas. It created gridlock traffic for several hours throughout Central Salinas, as officers and tow truck drivers spent hours trying to clear the scene.
California Highway Patrol said they arrived at 6:13 a.m. on Monday to find a large four-axle crane, upside down in the embankment at Alisal and Griffin streets.
“It was determined that this Ford utility truck was traveling southbound on 101 approaching Alisal when it went off the roadway, down this embankment right here and, almost, landing in front of Alisal Street," said CHP Officer Saul Perez.
He confirmed that another car, a Jeep SUV, was involved in the accident. That driver was not hurt, while the crane driver had major injuries.
“The area we're in here, happens a lot because the the off ramp from where Carl's Jr. is is kind of narrow. It's kind of short. So a lot of cars lose, you know, run out of road to get on to the freeway.”
Jessie Flores Jr. owns a body shop around the corner. He came out to watch the scene as drivers had to find a detour to get from one side of the freeway to the other, creating long backups on Market Street.
“I mean, they could go around. You know, there's common courtesy. The only thing we're watching, like, from being here, are people honking and being upset over things that are going on. But, you know, these kind of things happen and people need to be, you know, courtesy of everything," said Flores.
Several towing vehicles were on hand to take the crane out of the ditch and onto E. Alisal Street. Then, finally, up and onto a large enough tow truck. Crews said at one point, one of the cords holding the weight of the crane snapped.
Used oil spilled into the water in the embankment and onto the street.
According to the Monterey County Health Department, used oil spills can be toxic to people and the environment. They oversaw as crews cleaned up, which included throwing sheets in the water to absorb the oil.
It’s unclear what caused the driver to go off the highway and through the guardrail. CHP said intoxication is not being considered as a factor
Some wires underneath the concrete on Alisal Street were destroyed. Caltrans is expected to come work on that, as well as repair the guardrail on the highway.
