Vehicle Plunges 700 Feet Off Ortega Highway

Jenny Nason October 20, 2012 at 12:35 pm

I love going through the Ortegas. Slow down people. Please

Jason EHS '99 October 20, 2012 at 02:13 pm

I was wondering why all the fire trucks were at the base of the mountain lol. Hope that guy or gal is ok...and yes...slow down peoole

Gavin Barr October 20, 2012 at 02:32 pm

...and if you slow down, USE THE TURNOUTS, so the people who know how to drive and use this highway as their regular daily commute don't waste THEIR life away because of your ignorance! An eyewitness to this crash told me there was as least a dozen cars stacked up behind this vehicle before it went over the side. Ortega is a beautiful highway on which dozens of turnouts were added so it's traveler's can both enjoy the scenery AND yield to faster traffic (as the dozens of posted signs ask drivers to do...it's a pity that the beauty of the area has to be scarred by these signs ...that so many people are too stupid or too ignorant to abide by anyway). This has always been a dangerous highway, but it all comes down to the intelligence of the drivers that use it. Be courteous, be considerate, be safe, OR DON'T USE IT!...and don't toss your still-lit cigarettes out on it either, as I witnessed the driver in front of me do just a few nights ago.

Jacqueline Hunter-Mason October 20, 2012 at 02:33 pm

That road should be closed. It's nothing but a death trap. I drove on it once and will never ever do it again. It was worse than being on a roller coaster and not very safe at all. The need some railings or some sort of safety structure there. Very sad. I hope the person is ok but that's a hell of a drop down

Gavin Barr October 20, 2012 at 03:20 pm

Great idea, close the highway. Funnel more more people onto the 15 and the 91. Wow, makes it more clear to me than ever what the problem is...

tom October 20, 2012 at 04:38 pm

The law is 5 cars behind must pull over. Curtesy is 3. lots of places to pull over.

Steve October 20, 2012 at 06:15 pm

They were gonna take dynamite and blow a hole through the Ortegas for a nice highway but they scrapped the plans 'cos of cost, so people will have to pay with their lives.

Debbie Badham October 20, 2012 at 07:15 pm

There are circumstances when it is unsafe to use certain turnouts. I use the ortega to haul horses and there a many turnouts that are not safe to use when you are driving a vehicle with a trailer. In the past I used turnouts and come to find out I am now sitting on a blind curve. A train wreck waiting to happen. I will not put myself, my horses or the guy coming around the blind curve in danger. Not everyone is ignorant and maybe you should understand the circumstances before you label people as such. I use the turnourt in front of the candy store and the big sweeping curve near the bottom of the hill and that is it. Maybe some people should leave a little earlier to get to work and they wouldn't have to be in such a hurry. Enjoy life - be safe. Sit back and enjoy the ride, it's a beautiful drive.

Sew Good October 20, 2012 at 09:16 pm

Close the road because you drove it once and you think it's a death trap? The first time I drove it I was either in the front of a line of cars, or sitting in a turnout. I don't think closing it is the answer. Roads aren't nearly as dangerous as the drivers who use them. Drive with patience. Watch your mirrors. Pull over and let the idiots get passed. It's not that hard.

Kaleen Itup October 20, 2012 at 10:07 pm

Not everyone has to pull over because some idiots insist on speeding.................the problem many times is these arrogant drivers who think just because they drive it every day they have the right to ride your bumper!

Debbie Badham October 20, 2012 at 10:24 pm

Amen Kaleen!

rayne October 20, 2012 at 10:30 pm

Look Out is a hard place to make mistakes,,, Usually intentional,

True Authority October 20, 2012 at 10:54 pm

Pulling over is not just about getting out of the way to allow someone to speed. The speed limit on that road is typically 55 MPH, and when you insist on driving 35 MPH (because that is the speed you feel safe driving this road), please look behind you and see how many others are following closely behind you and use turnouts when necessary. It is all about courtesy, for you moving over for those of us who wish to drive closer to the speed limit and for us more comfortable on the Ortega to not pressure you by tailgating. There are many signs directing (not suggesting) slower traffic to use turnouts, please do so.

True Authority October 20, 2012 at 10:56 pm

By the way,,, The real idiots are the ones that allow 10+ cars stack up behind them and refuse to yield.

Mozzie October 20, 2012 at 11:04 pm

That's what I was thinking. 600-700 ft down you'd have to get a running start to launch yourself that far. Not likely to happen to someone going 35mph.

The Teller of Truth October 20, 2012 at 11:13 pm

Whats an intentional mistake?

Ahmed Jehanzeb October 20, 2012 at 11:52 pm

Perfectly safe highway, issue is with unsafe drivers/riders.
Huge red flag if you have a line of cars and you will NOT pull over. Either you are too scared or are too arrogant to pull over, both are the real dangers.

Anthony October 21, 2012 at 12:05 am

I agree with Gavin. I detest idiots that toss there lit cigarettes out the window and I despise smokers in general. They are all self disrespecting polluters and it should be against the law to smoke and drive. If you can't use your cell phone and drive then you shouldn't be able to smoke and drive....

Charles Decelles October 21, 2012 at 01:59 am

I don't smoke, but it seems to me that it's better to have a driver smoking than rushing heedlessly of safety to get to where he/she can smoke. Smoking is an addiction, after all. But I too hate it when people take a chance of starting a forest fire by throwing a butt out the window. That shows no regard for the safety of others. What if someone dies fighting the resulting fire? Oh, and you CAN use your cell phone while driving, legally. Just use a hands-free device. It doesn't make anyone safer, but it fulfills the law.

Kelly October 21, 2012 at 02:20 am

I totally agree with you Gavin Barr, more people need to use the turnouts on Ortega. When I started driving Ortega, I used the turnouts all the time, now there is no need for me to use them, but I am still safe. As far as the still lit cigarettes, those people should be turned in if at all possible. Are they really that stupid to think that nothing is going to happen if they throw them out the window??? Wake up you idiots!!! Ortega is a beautiful road, RESPECT IT...

Stacie Arrigo October 21, 2012 at 03:10 am

Completely agree with you!!! I commute on the Ortega 5 days a week. Nothing worse than a inconsiderate driver determining for the rest of how fast we can go!!!!

Stacie Arrigo October 21, 2012 at 03:13 am

Actually you do by law. You can be cited for going to slow also. The speed limit on the Ortega is 55mph, not 35 mph. Those drivers that actually drive At the slower speeds are the truly dangerous drivers.

Cath October 21, 2012 at 04:32 am

I was 2 cars behind this driver and they were totally impaired. This could have been so much worse. They kept drifting off the edge of the road and into the oncoming lane. We kept waiting for a head-on collision and they just went straight instead of making the turn just before the lookout and launched. Luckily they didn't plow into the lookout where there were so many people or for that matter didn't create a head on collision & hurt innocent people. Thank goodness they are ok too. It was a very scary site to see.

Mozzie October 21, 2012 at 11:46 am

I wonder if anyone called 911 before the accident? I also wonder if it would have made any difference other than having the FD ready to respond.