Legally Reviewed by Phillip Younglove, Esq. on August 11, 2026
In the early morning of May 10, 2021 a large tree fell across the US-101 near Redcrest. The tree blocked traffic in both directions and caused several traffic accidents in a short span of time.
A white 2011 Kenworth semi-truck pulling a trailer was traveling southbound on the US-101 in the rightmost lane when it collided into the fallen tree, causing it to cross into northbound traffic, and careen off the other side of the road where it eventually stopped after going down an embankment. The semi-truck’s driver was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Fresno’s Marc Alexander Reichle was driving a red 2020 Jeep Cherokee northbound on the US-101 when he likewise collided into the tree, eventually coming to a stop in the northbound traffic lanes. Fortunately, he was uninjured.
Shortly thereafter, Ruben Anthony Sepulveda of Redway, who was driving a white 2017 Toyota Tundra on the southbound US-101, also collided into the fallen tree, eventually coming to a stop in the southbound lanes of traffic. Just after coming to a stop, a 2018 Ford F-150 driven by Mark Allen Taylor of Fortuna collided into the tree and then the Toyota Tundra before rolling onto its side.
Ruben Anthony Sepulveda was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka with severe injuries. Mark Allen Taylor reportedly suffered minor injuries, but the investigation is still underway.
The US-101 was temporarily closed to traffic. The CHP Garberville Area is investigating this traffic collision. Why the tree fell across the US-101 remains under investigation.
Losing a family member in an auto accident is invariably a traumatic experience for those left behind. We at Younglove Law Group extend our deepest condolences to the family of the truck driver who unfortunately died in this incident, as well as to all of the other injured parties involved in this incident and their families.
What Happens When a Fallen Tree Causes a Multi-Vehicle Crash
A crash caused by a sudden roadway obstruction, like a fallen tree, raises different questions than a typical two-car collision. Depending on what the investigation ultimately finds, responsibility can fall on more than one party. If the tree stood on private property and showed visible signs of disease, damage, or instability that the owner knew or should have known about, the property owner may bear some responsibility. If the tree or the surrounding vegetation was within the state or county road right-of-way, the public entity responsible for maintaining that stretch of highway may be responsible instead. In some cases, an investigation concludes the tree fall was a genuinely unforeseeable act of nature that no reasonable inspection would have caught. Each of the drivers involved may also share some degree of responsibility depending on their speed, following distance, and reaction once the roadway was obstructed.
Because a single incident like this can involve several drivers, a private landowner, and a government entity all at once, sorting out who owes what to whom is rarely straightforward. That is exactly the kind of investigation an attorney handles on a family’s behalf.
Filing a Claim if a Government Entity Is Responsible
The US-101 near Redcrest is a state highway, and highway right-of-way maintenance, including hazard trees near the roadway, can fall to Caltrans or the county depending on the segment. If a government entity turns out to bear responsibility for a crash like this one, California law gives injured people and surviving family members far less time to act than they would have in a claim against a private party. Under Government Code section 911.2, a claim for personal injury or wrongful death against a public entity generally must be presented within six months of the incident, not the two years allowed in most other injury cases. Missing that window can permanently bar a claim against the responsible government entity, which is why it matters to get a case reviewed early rather than waiting to see how the investigation plays out.
Understanding Wrongful Death Claims in California
California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 gives specific people the right to bring a wrongful death claim, generally the surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children of the person who died, or other relatives who depended on them financially. A wrongful death claim allows the family to pursue compensation for the financial support, companionship, and stability the death took from them, separate from any criminal investigation into how the crash happened. Our Newport Beach wrongful death attorneys walk families through that entire process, from identifying who qualifies to bring the claim to calculating what the loss is actually worth.
What to Do After a Serious Multi-Vehicle Crash Involving a Roadway Hazard
If you or a family member were involved in this accident, or in one similar to it, a few early steps protect your position while the investigation is still underway:
- Request the official collision report. The CHP report will document the roadway conditions and each vehicle’s position, which matters once a hazard tree or road maintenance is part of the picture.
- Photograph the scene if you are able to safely do so. Road debris, skid marks, and the tree itself can be cleared quickly after a highway reopens.
- Avoid speculating about fault to insurers on either side. Multi-vehicle, multi-party crashes are exactly the kind of case where an early, informal statement can complicate a claim later.
- Move quickly if a government entity may be involved. The six-month government claim deadline runs regardless of how long the CHP investigation takes.
We understand each case is different and deserves full individual attention. We have seen the impact being involved in a severe accident can have on a person’s life. The road to recovery and obtaining compensation for your damages is long and complex. Our Newport Beach car accident attorneys, Newport Beach truck accident attorneys, and Newport Beach wrongful death attorneys are here to help.
Call Younglove Law Group at (844) 810-1800 for a free and confidential consultation. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are also available by online chat and text message.
For more information about this accident, please click here for help requesting a police report. Our team of attorneys is here to help you during this trying time.
Source: https://kymkemp.com/2021/05/10/ferndale-man-dies-in-fatal-crash-early-this-morning-redway-man-with-major-injuries/
Frequently Asked Questions About This Type of Accident
Who is responsible when a fallen tree causes a car accident on a California highway?
It depends on what caused the tree to fall and where it was located. A private landowner can be responsible if a visibly hazardous tree on their property was not addressed, a government entity can be responsible if the tree or vegetation was within a state or county road right-of-way that was not properly maintained, and some tree falls are genuinely unforeseeable events that no party could have prevented. An investigation into the specific tree and its history is usually needed before responsibility can be determined.
Is there a different deadline to sue if a government entity like Caltrans is involved?
Yes. Claims against a state or local government entity in California generally must be presented within six months of the incident under the Government Claims Act, compared to the two years typically allowed for a claim against a private party. That shortened deadline is one of the main reasons to have a potential government-liability case reviewed as soon as possible.
Can more than one driver share fault in a multi-vehicle pileup like this?
Yes. California allows more than one party to share fault under its comparative negligence rules, and a chain-reaction crash involving a sudden road obstruction often does involve more than one driver’s actions being examined alongside the hazard itself. Each vehicle’s speed, following distance, and reaction time are typically part of that review.
How do I get a copy of the CHP traffic collision report?
You can request a copy directly from the investigating CHP area office, which in this case is the Garberville Area office, or you can have an attorney’s office request it on your behalf. Having the full report matters because it documents the roadway conditions and each vehicle’s position at a point when memories are still fresh and evidence has not yet been cleared from the scene.
What damages can a family recover in a California wrongful death claim?
Eligible family members can pursue both economic losses, such as the financial support and household services the deceased would have provided, and non-economic losses, such as the loss of companionship, guidance, and consortium. What a claim is actually worth depends heavily on the specific family’s circumstances, which is why an individual case evaluation matters more than any general estimate.
