The Cynosural Blog

First, let me say that it appears that no one was hurt. Isn't that what everyone says when only the vehicles involved were damaged? This was very fortunate considering the extent of the damage to the vehicles.

It was a beautiful day on the coast, as it had been for a few days. Sunny, dry and heavier traffic than normal for a weekday morning.

The pictures below were taken in the storage yard a few hours after the accident. Here's what happened yesterday.

I was driving north on CA Route 1 to meet with Clarise. The stretch of highway between Montara and Pacifica is a narrow, winding two-lane road known as Devil's Slide, and it had slid early Wednesday morning. Traffic was being stopped in both directions while CalTrans cleared away some of the rubble, then the road would be opened for a few minutes, then closed again for a short time. Just after the long string of cars had been allowed to move again, I was heading around a curve to my left when there was a BOOM, and our Highlander was suddenly swung around to the left, perpendicular to oncoming traffic. Spinning the steering wheel had no affect, as I headed towards the 150 foot drop to the ocean. Luckily the cars going south were able to stop or avoid me, and the concrete barrier prevented my plunge. I was confused by the fact that I couldn't make the Highlander move. It wouldn't back up. I wanted to get to a turn-out, and not be blocking traffic at that narrow curve.

I got out of the car, and saw that the rear wheel was ripped out. I guess that is why the Highlander didn't respond, and certainly why I couldn't back up.

I want to thank the man driving the black truck for stopping, asking if I was all right, and when we both saw that we had no cell signal there, driving to where he could get a signal, to report the accident.

I also want to thank the woman in the white Jeep Cherokee for coming over and checking on me. And for stopping without hitting me. I was in shock from what had happened, and she reminded me to turn off my car. After a few moments, I was able to think again.

And I especially want to thank Pablo of WILSON, IHRIG & ASSOCIATES, INC. who was behind me when I was hit. He gave me his card, said that he had seen what happened, as he was almost struck as well, and offered to be a witness.

I saw the car that had caused all this, stopped at a turn-out a short way down the road.

A older red T-bird going south driven by an elderly man with his wife as passenger hadn't taken the curve in the road, but had struck me starting at the driver's side front door, mangling the rear door on that side, and shearing off the rear wheel.

The inland side of the road is the mountain, with another barrier lining the road. When I was spun around, the passenger side of the bumper must have struck the barrier, as it was damaged as well. I couldn't get a picture of that.

The front bumper was scraped by the barrier blocking the fall to the ocean.

I walked down to see who had struck me. I saw the elderly couple, and that they seemed unharmed. They didn't speak much English, especially the man. I asked that we exchange information, but he didn't seem to understand. I let it go, deciding that the police could handle it. We started to direct traffic around us, while waiting for the police to come.

The first to arrive on the scene was Gus, an "Active Retiree" volunteer for the San Mateo County Sheriff's office. He took over directing traffic and organizing things. Two fire trucks from Point Montara Fire Station, an ambulance, and four more Sheriff's cars came. They handled traffic control, and had Joe's Auto Body in Pacifica come out to clear my car. Because of jurisdiction, that's all they could do, until CHP arrived from San Francisco. The fellow who had caused all this started taking pictures of everything, and was even interfering with efforts of the wrecker trying to move the Highlander. The deputies had to drag him away. But the scene was cleared, and traffic was flowing again.

CHP arrived, took the reports, arranged for AAA to come get both cars. Jeff from Miller & O'Brien in Pacifica arrived a short time later and put the Highlander on a flat bed, and used the stinger to get the T-Bird. And thus we were taken safely off of Devil's Slide.