BajaNomad - Baja 1 closed again today due to accident!

Baja 1 closed again today due to accident!

Marla Daily - 1-4-2013 at 06:47 PM

Just pulled into Baja Cactus headed north from Loreto. At 2 AM today a driver of a big rig fell asleep and went off the side not far north of Jesus Maria (north of Guerrero Negro). A semi headed north went off the road to avoid hitting him. Although there was no collision, the incident left two badly damaged big rigs across the
highway. As of 2 PM this afternoon—12 hours later— there were two miles of big rigs, cars towing trailers, and at least 8 buses full of passengers headed both north and south lined up unable to bypass the accident. No tow trucks in sight!

Most cars were able to go around the incident offroad with minor difficulty. For us this makes 3 out of 3 times in a row the highway has been blocked for hours due to an accident (November 28; December 13; January4!)

beachbum1A - 1-4-2013 at 07:08 PM

Holy crap! Do you think it's because there is a problem with a tow vehicle large enough to handle 18 wheelers?

woody with a view - 1-4-2013 at 07:21 PM

see, it's like this-especially if i'm in an 18 wheeler.

if some idiot is coming into my lane at full speeds i WILL NOT try to swerve away to avoid the collision and end up flying off the shoulder and rolling off into the desert. no sir, not this kid. i'll do what i can to avoid contact but if it is inevitable we are gonna smash.

why would i swerve to avoid some A-hole and kill myself and my family so this POS can continue on his way without so much as a second glance in the rearview mirror?

DianaT - 1-4-2013 at 07:24 PM

We travel back and forth fairly often and we always see at least one big rig accident either on our way down or back. For the most part, we have not been delayed long, but I just hate seeing the accidents!

SAD !! are they not puting up crosses anymore?

captkw - 1-4-2013 at 07:32 PM

I would think that by now it would almost be a picket fence ...bummer when it Happens,,when, It can be avoided!!!

redhilltown - 1-5-2013 at 12:25 AM

We have all seen the accidents and clenched our teeth when approaching a tight corner and that big rig is going just a BIT TOO FAST coming the other way...and I for one do not have Mother Mary on my side as they probably do. All we can do is err on the side of extreme caution.

J.P. - 1-5-2013 at 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
see, it's like this-especially if i'm in an 18 wheeler.

if some idiot is coming into my lane at full speeds i WILL NOT try to swerve away to avoid the collision and end up flying off the shoulder and rolling off into the desert. no sir, not this kid. i'll do what i can to avoid contact but if it is inevitable we are gonna smash.

why would i swerve to avoid some A-hole and kill myself and my family so this POS can continue on his way without so much as a second glance in the rearview mirror?

I have traveled over a million miles in a 18 wheel truck and I cant count the times I have heard almost the same argument. What I would do and not do when faced with a possible colision. I have been in a few. usually It was caused by someone pulling out in front of you and not realizing how far it takes to stop a 80 thousand pound rig. and when it comes right down to it your reaction is involintary.
When traveling Baja in my rv I have twice had the mirrow knocked off it's a very dangerous game a lot of truckers play. most people dont think about how close it is to a very very serious collision when that happens. If you watch a on coming truck they will cross the centerline and pull back to there side about a truck length before they get to you. the trailer follows the front wheels and the back end will be in your lane when it passes you.
it's completely insane to pull two 53ft trailers over any two lane road.like they do here

RnR - 1-5-2013 at 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
If you watch a on coming truck they will cross the centerline and pull back to there side about a truck length before they get to you. the trailer follows the front wheels and the back end will be in your lane when it passes you.

They are doing this on purpose????? :fire:

BajaBlanca - 1-5-2013 at 07:35 AM

the roads are scary. Once Les saw a truck rig full of beer go off the side on his way from La Bocana to Santa Rosalia ! He still remembers that years later....

J.P. I concur !! It is Insane !!

captkw - 1-5-2013 at 08:34 AM

And yes they do play That "Game" on the hwy 1 !!!! I'll never bring a RV down again !! thats a fav target...

ligui - 1-5-2013 at 08:56 AM

I give them the cross the line first , like i've been drinking to much . They stay on their side then . Trying to figure me out , by then i'm past .

Love driving hwy 1 , just don't be in a hurry yuo'll get there. :bounce:

watizname - 1-5-2013 at 09:06 AM

The truckers of Baja have been playing that game for at least the last 30 something years. You need to have complete concentration when passing an oncoming truck down there. I set myself up close to the shoulder, and concentrate of staying there. You can't watch them go by. I know there have been times when the passing truck was only inches from our rig. I don't know if they think its funny or what, but it seems most of the drivers do it. Passing a truck going downhill while your going up seems to be the safest, as they are usually going slower, and you can time your passing to your benefit. The long straights are the ones that scare me. Both hands on the wheel, and don't be stargazing then. :coolup:

vandenberg - 1-5-2013 at 09:07 AM

Many roads in the US that carry the name "Death Alley" would be like driving the freeway, if compared to Hw 1
Many more accidents and fatalities than we ever hear about.

Udo - 1-5-2013 at 09:08 AM

Last time down south, we saw three big rigs over the side.
Plus saw a cow and two horses that were hit by big rigs (saw the double axle tire skids).

Bajaboy - 1-5-2013 at 09:23 AM

I'm still amazed that people, including Nomads, drive as fast as they do. While I don't drive the posted speed limits, I also do not get close to driving 80 mph either.

[Edited on 1-5-2013 by Bajaboy]

J.P. - 1-5-2013 at 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by watizname
The truckers of Baja have been playing that game for at least the last 30 something years. You need to have complete concentration when passing an oncoming truck down there. I set myself up close to the shoulder, and concentrate of staying there. You can't watch them go by. I know there have been times when the passing truck was only inches from our rig. I don't know if they think its funny or what, but it seems most of the drivers do it. Passing a truck going downhill while your going up seems to be the safest, as they are usually going slower, and you can time your passing to your benefit. The long straights are the ones that scare me. Both hands on the wheel, and don't be stargazing then. :coolup:

The long straight before and after G.N. are the worst the last time it happened a trucker stopped and helped me rig a mirrow on my motorhome. and told me he always carries a extra mirrow.
I agree about the roads down here .they are getting much better but they have a long way to go. all truckers are not bad thankfully there are more good ones than bad.

Hwy 1

captkw - 1-5-2013 at 11:53 AM

we used to call it "trading headlights" & "swapping mirrors"...I havnt heard those in a while...But, now the road is a LOT wider and better.. It happens as much as in the early 80's....At least I havnt seen any hanging or missing driver side mirrors like I used to....K&T

DavidE - 1-5-2013 at 12:41 PM

The average response time from time of accident for the ambulance to arrive and get me to a hospital is about 5 hours. I keep this in mind as I watch my speedometer.

Nothing as fun as seeing ganado at a dead run emerge from the sagebrush and cross 100' in front of me. Or a pickup with no fenders or windshield emerge from a hidden brecha and proceed to do 7 mph.

Lots of room in the desert to bury the stupid, the bravo and the unlucky.

David K - 1-5-2013 at 01:33 PM

The majority of Hwy 1's newest section (San Quintin to Santa Rosalia) paved all in 1973... is still the original 19 ft. wide... Be Careful!

LancairDriver - 1-5-2013 at 01:57 PM

Repeat this scene 50 times a day, especially in an RV or pulling a trailer and you are ready to relax with your favorite beverage and be thankful if you have only lost a mirror. :lol:

David K - 1-5-2013 at 03:04 PM

Awesome photo. The adventure wasn't lost with the pavement, it just changed!

vgabndo - 1-5-2013 at 03:32 PM

I totally agree David, and have said a lot of times that the drive itself was a real part of every Baja adventure.

It seems like there were more of them before they changed the narrow concrete culvert ends south of the 28th. But the trucks would hit those curbs, and pull the right rear suspension backwards a little bit so that for the driver to keep the back of the "sideways" truck on the pavement, the left front had to be on (or over) the center line!

Those culvert abutments were all chewed-up and coated with rubber!

If there is time, and no one is behind me, those trucks pass my 8 foot wide camper while I'm almost stopped! :lol:

ncampion - 1-5-2013 at 04:44 PM

One of my favorite truck photos.......
It's probably been around before, but worth repeating.

Hook - 1-5-2013 at 05:47 PM

That highway was a MAJOR factor in us deciding to retire in Sonora instead of the Mulege area. The drive just gets to you, after a while. One trip towing my 25 foot boat to San Carlos, Sonora was all it took. I arrived so much more relaxed.

They are constantly repaving Mex 15 over here in stretches. The repaving jobs for the last 18 months HAVE ACTUALLY INCLUDED SHOULDERS AND EMERGENCY LANES ON THE RIGHT, if you can believe it!

So, that's a four lane divided highway WITH emergency lanes. I'd say the whole 270 miles from the border will probably be complete in 2-3 years, maybe less. Road construction is serious business over here. The pavement is like US standards thick.

[Edited on 1-6-2013 by Hook]

ncampion - 1-5-2013 at 06:10 PM

Highway 1 in Baja is also getting better each year, but there is a lot of it still left to do.

rts551 - 1-5-2013 at 06:19 PM

We went around about 9>00 AM. Saw the tow trucks headed south from LA Bay junction shortly there after. They should have had it cleared before noon. (The trucks did hit each other by the way. I talked to one of the drivers)

Marla Daily - 1-5-2013 at 07:03 PM

Absolutely amazing! The highway was closed for more than 31 hours if you went around it today (Saturday) at 9:00 AM! The accident happened at 2 AM Friday morning; we passed going off road around the trucks at 2 PM Friday afternoon. Think of all those folks on all the buses. The buses should have switched passengers, turned around, and headed north/south with their new respective passengers!

rts551 - 1-5-2013 at 08:01 PM

passed on friday at about 9. not today. Sorry the tow trucks should ave been there as we saw them coming south. Two big ones.

dtbushpilot - 1-5-2013 at 08:16 PM

We passed the accident site yesterday afternoon (southbound) around 3pm. When we got to the military checkpoint North of there traffic was backed up for about a mile northbound, there wasn't anybody checking southbound traffic, we just drove past. I wondered what was going on till I came upon the accident site a few miles down the road. I guess there must have been a big lineup at the military checkpoint after they reopened the highway. That must have been frustrating for everybody heading North to have to sit for hours at the checkpoint after sitting for hours at the accident site....

Whew!

fixtrauma - 1-5-2013 at 09:21 PM

We saw the left-over carnage as we drove north through there today. Our timing was right.

I am driving a full size RV north and am at El Rosario tonight. Today I was getting frustrated at how close the semi's were getting to my mirror. I started looking back as soon as they past me and saw several times that they had a good foot or more on their shoulder side and then would swing towards the shoulder after passing me. :fire:

Bajaboy - 1-5-2013 at 09:48 PM

We came through there Thursday afternoon and all was clear....

BajaNomad - 1-5-2013 at 10:36 PM

No accident remnants remain in the area north of Jesus Maria as of late this afternoon.

There was some sort of accident-appearing (or unusual construction) situation in the switchbacks up on the mountain pass south of El Rosario in the early evening. Flame-pots on the highway being used to indicate caution.

msteve1014 - 1-6-2013 at 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNomad
No accident remnants remain in the area north of Jesus Maria as of late this afternoon.

There was some sort of accident-appearing (or unusual construction) situation in the switchbacks up on the mountain pass south of El Rosario in the early evening. Flame-pots on the highway being used to indicate caution.

That was a truck loaded with rebar laying on it's side. Half in the north bound lane, and half in the dirt. We went by around 10 am.

Pompano - 1-6-2013 at 05:15 PM

Thinking back to the original Baja Road..Hwy 1, one of the things that bugged me the most was the lack of painted center and edge lines. Made night driving a real nightmare.

But even after the painted lines came on the scene...other hazards happened regularly. Welcome to Baja...and always drive carefully.

[Edited on 1-7-2013 by Pompano]

David K - 1-7-2013 at 12:01 PM

I remember my dad commenting as we were on the newly paved highway (before it ended 37 miles from El Rosario, June, 1973) that it was hard to judge your side of such a narrow road without a center line.