Tower Injured - 10.06.20 (CA)

TowNews · October 7, 2020

At 1:45pm A Tow Truck with Clyde’s Towing, Fortuna, CA. was involved in Collision on Hwy 36 East of Carlotta, CA.

The Tow Truck struck a tree about mile marker 11 on Hwy 36 east of Carlotta, according to emergency personnel on the scene. This occurred following a collision with a second vehicle. The second vehicle reportedly also struck a tree.

An air ambulance was also requested.

The tow truck driver needs to be extricated from the vehicle.

Bridgeville Fire, Carlotta Fire, and Fortuna Ambulance are responding to the scene. An air ambulance was also requested.

UPDATE 2:11 p.m.: The tow truck truck driver was extricated.

UPDATE 2:39 p.m.: A ground ambulance transported the tow truck driver to a local hospital. He has several broken bones. The air ambulance was canceled.

RESOURCE LINK with video

GRUMPS The Towman · October 7, 2020

He pounded that tree.. He is very lucky to be alive. I hope the operator makes a full and speedy recovery. I am gonna make a guess and say he either suffered a medical event prior to the wreck or was possibly distracted??

rreschran · October 7, 2020

That crash was on one of Northern California's senic backroads where they're narrow and windy. This crash was maybe two-hours away from the crash last month that killed the tow operator in Big Bar, Note: That giant old redwood was previously struck by lightning some time in its life ... but, that truck into that tree only messed up the bark. I too hope the driver makes a full recovery. R.

Edited October 7, 2020 by rreschran

**TowZone** · October 7, 2020

UPDATED TODAY at 11AM:

Fortuna Tow Truck Driver Suffers Major Injuries in Highway 36 Crash, CHP Says

On 10-06-2020, at approximately 1:35 p.m., Humboldt Area CHP responded to a single-vehicle collision on State Route 36 east of Riverside Park Drive.

A preliminary investigation by CHP revealed that 59-year-old David Mangin of Fortuna was driving a 2016 Dodge Ram flatbed tow truck eastbound on State Route 36, east of Riverside Park Road.

For unknown reasons, Mr. Mangin allowed the truck to travel off the north side of the road and collide with a large tree. Mr. Mangin suffered major injuries as a result of this collision.

Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and subsequently transported Mr. Mangin to St. Joseph Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Impairment is not considered a factor in this collision.

The CHP Humboldt Area Office is continuing its investigation into this collision and asks anyone with information to contact the Humboldt Area CHP Office at 707-822-5981 or send an email to humboldt_area.humboldt_area@chp.ca.gov.

RESOURCE LINK