The California Highway Patrol reported Friday that a hit and run traffic crash had occurred on Hwy. 199 Thursday morning, April 28th, just after 10:40am.
The suspect vehicle was traveling southbound on Hwy. 199 with a damaged rear tire, drifted to the right and struck a power pole, causing power lines to fall onto the roadway.
After continuing to travel just under a mile, the trailer detached from the three axle truck, overturning and spilling approximately 2000 gallons of asphalt binder across the roadway, resulting in a full closure of Hwy. 199 for several hours as well as authorities from Six Rivers National Forest later confirming that material from the spill DID reach the Smith River.
Just before 11:00am, the suspect vehicle was identified and located by the California Highway Patrol and an enforcement stop was initiated by the officer. As a result of a subsequent investigation during the traffic stop, the driver of the truck, identified as 58 year old Raoul H.D. Payette Jr. of Klamath Falls, was arrested for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence and Hit and Run.
Hwy. 199 has been completely re-opened and clean up remains in progress.
