Northern California

Caught on Camera: Crews Run Away From Landslide in Northern California

The landslide in northern Mendocino County forced crews to close the 101 Freeway for the second time in two months

Road crews standing at the base of a Northern California hillside ran to safety as rocks and dirt tumbled onto the 101 Freeway.

Photographer Wendy Kornberg captured dramatic video of Sunday's slide, which shut down the freeway about 6 miles north of Leggett. As her camera picked up the ominous sound of the slide, Kornberg yelled, "Run!"

Four workers in reflective safety gear can be seen walking away before picking up the pace as large rocks began bouncing down onto the freeway and knocking over a concrete barrier. 

"Holy cow, oh my god. Are you kidding me?" said Kornberg, who was in a line with other drivers waiting to get through the construction zone.

Caltrans tweeted about the slide, saying it was "sporadically active" throughout the day. 

The highway in northern Mendocino County will likely be closed until at least Friday as crews work to remove rocks and soil that tumbled onto the road late Sunday. This is the second time in the past two months that this section of highway has been closed due to a landslide.

A Department of Transportation spokesman said the area is prone to rock slides. The current cleanup has been hampered by unstable soils continuing to slide.

The department advises people heading north to take the 5 Freeway.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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